Halloween tales take modern turn
FAMILY FUN | Theater stages bloodless coup
"The Spirit of All-Hallows Eve," a family-oriented Halloween show with "no blood and no gore," will be staged today and Sunday at the Bolingbrook Performing Arts Center in the southwest suburb.
Presented by Theatre-on-the-Hill, the colorful show tells four eerie traditional Halloween tales that have been updated to include morals from stories lifted from the daily news.
(Aurora Beacon News)
"This family-friendly show is like nothing else out there, and is a welcome respite from the old gore and screams of the haunted house circuit," said Craig J. Engel, president of Theatre-on-the-Hill in Bolingbrook. "The show relies heavily on narration and pantomime and begins by telling the origins of Halloween. Then we present stories about a witch, a mummy and vampires. This is pure entertainment for kids and adults alike."
One of the stories centers on a mummy who has lost his soul and ends up finding redemption. "The moral is that it's not too late for a lost soul to find a way back," Engel said.
"Spirit" has been written and directed by Douglas Hawksworth.
"The show's actors range in age from teens to seniors and do a great job bringing every character to life," Engel said.
Show times are 3 and 8 p.m. today and Sunday. Tickets: $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors. The Bolingbrook Performing Arts Center is at Town Center, 375 W. Briarcliff. For tickets or more information, call (630) 759-2970 or visit http://tothbolingbrook.com.
BOO BASH: The Chicago Cultural Center presents "Hallowed Halls: On Stage!" from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today. The free event, recommended for children ages 7-12 when accompanied by an adult, features Halloween-style performances and interactive workshops. Members of the Barrel of Monkeys theater ensemble will perform and show youngsters how to make Halloween costumes and create short plays. The Cultural Center is at 78 E. Washington. Call (312) 744-6630 or visit www.explorechicago.org.
GOING BATTY: Nighttime creatures such as fruit bats, spiders and owls will come out today at "Creatures of the Night" from noon to 3 p.m. today at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park. Admission is free. Call (312) 746-5100; www.garfield conservatory.org.
FLYING PUMPKINS! The Mundelein Park District's Free Pumpkin Drop begins at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at the Mundelein Community Center, 1401 N. Midlothian. The event features a new pumpkin "trebuchet" catapult that launches pumpkins into the air. Call (847) 566-0650; www.mundeleinparks.org.