Thread: The Haunted Theatre on Hill Street: The Magic Show

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This is my second year running The Haunted Theatre, which is a fundraiser for the local community theatre, Main Street Players. Last year's theme was a crazed director and his Theatre of the Macabre. This year, as you can tell by the poster, is about a magician (The Amazing Mordecai) and his lovely assistant and wife (Clarice). They traveled the world over, and then retired to our small town, turning the old theatre into a toy store, doing magic shows on the weekend for the community. Unfortunately his wife died in a tragic accident with a trick they had done a hundred times before. Now he is bent on bringing his wife back from the dead using real magic. Practicing on toys first, he now knows how to bring her back, but he needs sacrifices first. You'll do nicely.



Last year, we used simple set pieces with a dynamite cast. This year, we have a dynamite cast, but we amped up our sets. Instead of a maze that winds them through the theatre, we have 9 areas that wind them through the theatre.








Last night was opening night for us, and it was a lot of fun. I've realized a few things. One, no matter how many times you practice it, the chainsaw has a mind of it's own, and will not work when you need it the most. Two, I'm two old to be running and jumping off ledges. I originally gave the chainsaw character to someone else, but he couldn't figure out how to get the chainsaw running, so I took over. Then I hurt my knee, and we did some quick changing up, where someone else took over. Luckily my knee is feeling better today, but we're going to keep the change in, because he was doing a good job with it. I'm extremely sore today, but it's a good sore. Just need to get moving.

Last year, we kept having to reput up the walls, but it's amazing how 100 staples into each sheet will keep it up there, as we haven't had to replace any of the walls after one night. Two of our props took some serious wear and tare though. Our swords box will need to be pretty much rebuilt, as I think the only thing holding it together right now is the chains that it's wrapped in. Luckily it's an easy fix and shouldn't take long. But unfortunately, a part of the mirror in our "spill your guts" illusion (the first prop I ever built) broke. Luckily it's just shattered at the top, so we put some duct tape on both sides, and hopefully that will keep it from breaking further, because outside of redoing the whole thing, we're just going to have to deal with it. The actress in it is working on is safely though, we still have no idea how it got busted.

Everything else went without a hitch though, so here's hoping for another good night tonight, so if you're south of Atlanta, and have some time to kill, come on by. It's only $5, and it goes to a good cause.

Here is a highlight video of our haunt this year. Hope you enjoy.

YouTube - The Haunted Theatre on Hill Street 2010