Thread: 'Haunted Theatre' Decorating - Ideas Needed!

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Recently, I was asked if I would decorate my local theatre's lobby for Halloween. I decorated last year, too, but that was a very last-minute thing with no planning and no theme. Well, this year I want to do something more than a few cobwebs, and the theatre has given me (mostly) free reign with no requirements beyond 'don't scare the little kids' and 'don't damage the place too much'.

The October shows are a kids' version of Sleepy Hollow and a comedy about Civil War reenactors, along with the seasonal city Ghost Tours, so I decided that a haunted theatre theme would be best. I have some ideas - mouse shadows on the baseboards, tea stained sheets over the sofa, skeletal usher in the corner, that sort of thing, but I would really appreciate input and ideas from some of you more experienced folks.

I know a lot depends on the space, so here's a little bit of description; This lobby used to be the sanctuary of a church, so it's big, maybe 50'x30' with 25-30' ceilings, and relatively empty. On one side, near the box office desk, is a semi-enclosed 20'x10'x10' hall with doors to the theatre and both bathrooms. On the other side of the lobby are offices and an open stairway leading to a balcony lined with more offices. There's also a small balcony over the main doors, which are centered on one long side, across from the concessions bar. The bar itself is made from 2 or 3 joined church pews with countertops.

I can give more details if they're wanted. Anyone willing to help a ghoul out?
(Thanks in advance! )

Sleepy Hollow....well then, you have to have a headless horseman

How about a Flying Crank Ghost.
Or some recent movie characters turned in to zombies. (for example Captin Am. atacking Harry Potter. )

I'd say a bucket of popcorn with a skull or a severed limb poking out.

How about classic movie monsters? Lots of cobwebs, candles (fake ones), candleabras, torn curtains. Give it the look of a classic, old-time theater from the good old days. A definite creepy feel, but not scary for the kids.

See what inspiration you can pull from my haunt last year. It was a Halloween monster movie theater, though more like the old movie houses from 70+ years ago.

I think one of the most creepy and ominous sounds is when the reel of film on a movie projector finishes and runs off the projector making that tick,tick,tick,sound. Making one think, "What happened to the projectionist?"

Thank you for all the responses! And I probably should have made this clearer in the first post, my bad. This isn't a movie theater, it's a theatre for live plays and musicals. I could mix in classic movie monsters, but I worry about confusing the patrons, especially the kids. Although if they were wax-museum type figures, it might just be really cool.

Originally Posted by Scatterbrains

Sleepy Hollow....well then, you have to have a headless horseman

xD Yes! If nothing else, I could make a giant jack o' lantern head and sit it on the sofa, right?

Originally Posted by OctoberDream

How about a Flying Crank Ghost.

Hmm... The real question is where to put it? It'd look great on the smaller balcony, but there's nothing to mount it to there. A really 'invisible' stand of some kind might work though.

Originally Posted by Giles

Lots of cobwebs, candles (fake ones), candleabras, torn curtains. Give it the look of a classic, old-time theater from the good old days. A definite creepy feel, but not scary for the kids.

Exactly the feel I'm going for. Maybe I'll get lucky and find some free-standing candelabras somewhere, that'd be great.

Originally Posted by trentsketch

See what inspiration you can pull from my haunt last year. It was a Halloween monster movie theater, though more like the old movie houses from 70+ years ago.

Wow! Nice haunt, I hadn't even thought of doing a creepy display for the concessions counter. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Giles

Lots of cobwebs, candles (fake ones), candleabras, torn curtains. Give it the look of a classic, old-time theater from the good old days. A definite creepy feel, but not scary for the kids.

I think this is great with kind of the Phantom of the Opera theater look