Most of us grew up watching some version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and if you didn't, you likely still can conjure the image of the Headless Horseman from its dominance in pop culture.
That character and others will soon be taking to the Eagle Eye Community Theatre stage, just in time for Halloween.
The Between Shifts (BST) production runs from Oct. 18 to 22.
Amy Reid, the director and producer of the show, said the non-profit theatre company decided to do a fall show this year, as opposed to a Christmas production.
She said she chose this play in particular because she grew up with it, and it is a story most folks know, so there is a nostalgia factor.
As a refresher, the story follows school teacher Ichabod Crane, who lives in Sleepy Hollow.
"Crane is the awkward school teacher who moves to town and falls in love with Katrina," explained Reid.
"She has another suitor who is interested in her and Ichabod is quite a nervous guy who spooks easily, so they play all kinds of jokes on him because they know that he's scared of ghosts and anything supernatural. And then, one dark night, Ichabod's fate befalls him."
The Squamish performance is geared to be family-friendly for kids aged seven and up.
However, Reid noted every child is different.
If they are afraid of Harry Potter stories, this isn't the play for them, but otherwise, they will likely enjoy it, she said.
This version of the story is written by Andrew Biliter, who updates the language from the old tale, which was set in 1790 and first published in 1820.
"Normally, it's very traditional language, whereas this one is a bit lighter and more colloquial, and it's peppered with quite a bit of humour. In between the spooky stuff, there's also lots of comedy,” she said.
The cast of 30-plus performers includes dancers from Squamish Dance Centre and Katherine Fawcett on the fiddle.
Demery Wilson Rymer plays Ichabod Crane, Ben Moore is Brom Bones, and Sienna Bartlett plays Katrina Van Tassel.
The production is working in partnership with The Studio, a BST mentorship program, which brings on young actors to give them real-life experience on a stage alongside seasoned actors and in front of the community.
The set and costumes have the Halloween magic of the season.
"It's been fun doing one of these big period pieces with the costumes and everything. We've pulled a bunch of stuff from [Vancouver’s] Bard on the Beach," Reid noted.
She added that Between Shifts, which has long been in a precarious position in terms of storage and rehearsal space, is keeping items at the Brackendale Art Gallery.
The BAG’s new owners Adrian Blachut and Jessica Rigg have been "huge supporters."
"They're ready to help us in any way that we need," Reid said, adding that once construction is done on the BAG's renovations, the theatre will have rehearsal space as well.
"So I think it's maybe there's some light at the end of the tunnel for Between Shifts, which has been struggling for so many years for space. We finally have some solutions, which is a long time coming," she said.
Evening Performances for The Legends of Sleepy Hollow start at 7:30 p.m. Weekend matinees at 2 p.m.
For more information and tickets, go to https://betweenshiftstheatre.com.
More 'spooktacular' entertainment
If you want even more Halloween fun, Reid is involved in another production with Whistler actor Brandon Barrett, who also works as a journalist at Pique Newsmagazine.
It is murder mystery super club theatre, Reid explained, launching Halloween weekend.
This is not a Between Shifts Theatre production, but instead with the pair's Smoking Gun Supper Club.
“The Chubb Club Murder is an interactive mystery set in a sleazy 1980s nightclub. Prepare to be both entertained and challenged as your table attempts to unravel whodunit," reads the description on the Smoking Gun Supper Club Facebook page.
The shows will be at Cork and Craft Taphouse on Oct. 27 and 28. There is a family-friendly version and a "raunchier" adult version later at night.
Tickets will be released soon. Check the Facebook and Instagram pages for more.
