For Immediate Release

Contact:

Martin Rabkin/martinrabkinink

845-647-5600 / 914-420-5739 / mrabkin@martinrabkinink.com

Halloween Alert: Shadowland Offers Vintage Radio Thrillers for Adults
and Frankenstein Play for Kids

Radio Classics Let George Do It and Lights Out are Scheduled for October 30 Benefit Performance,
with Frankenstein Slept Here for Kids on October 29

ELLENVILLE, NY, October 18, 2010 – Continuing its annual Halloween “Evening of Horror” series of on-stage classic radio drama recreations, Shadowland Theatre today announced their “Terror on the Mike” night program, presented as a benefit performance for the non-profit Actors’ Equity theater.   

On Saturday, October 30 at 8:00 pm, Shadowland will produce on-stage recreations of two vintage radio thrillers, the first an episode of the radio drama detective series Let George Do It, titled “The Witch of E-Ville Hollow,” which follows private detective George Valentine and his gal Friday, Claire “Brooksie” Brooks, as they investigate a fire in a small community that supposedly engulfed the village witch.  Starring Anthony Blaha, who has appeared at Shadowland in Guest Artist, American Buffalo, Sedition, The Cripple of Inishmaan and Natural History and recently in a staged reading of Marlowe with David Strathairn, the performance will feature local actors and Ellenville area notables.

The second play is a vintage episode of Arch Obler’s Lights Out. “Last year,” says Ray Faiola, who has adapted and is directing the two recreations, “the theater presented Obler’s ‘Cat Wife.’  This year, we go from the supernatural to terrifying reality as we present Obler’s ‘Execution,’ a World War II story of a French village to whom vengeance is meted out by a Nazi captain for the sniper attack on one of his soldiers.  The captain narrows his fury upon the women of the town, but his efforts to punish are thwarted in a most other-worldly manner.”  He adds, “after all, this is a Halloween weekend.”

Stepping back in time just like the old radio programs, each radio drama will include commercials featuring local Ellenville area businesses with original advertising jingles created by John Simon, the former producer of The Band, and member of the Greater Ellenville Jazz Trio.  Simon will also provide underscoring for the radio dramas. 

On Friday, October 29, at 8:00pm, members of Shadowland’s children’s theater under the direction of Andy Walter will perform a special presentation of Frankenstein Slept Here with a cast of 12 written by Tim Kelly.  Baroness Frankenstein has opened her castle to all those who can't cope with the outside world, including a descendant of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a Medusa with snakes in her hair, Vampira, the Mummy, the mad Igor, a Phantom Bride and–the Invisible Man.  The castle belongs to an American society matron who sends monthly checks to pay for the staff she imagines is working at the castle.  All the creatures pose as servants as Mrs. Hoople, the society matron, arrives with her young niece and husband to inspect the premises, only to discover her gardener is Igor, the butler is a mummy, the cleaning woman is a vampire and the Monster is stretched out on the dining table!  The highlight takes place when a werewolf fights the Invisible Man in full view of the audience.

“This is a fun Halloween play for kids of all ages,” says Walter, one of the original actors who helped found Shadowland Theatre 26 years ago.  

“Let George Do It,” produced by Owen and Pauline Vinson from 1946 to 1954, originally starred Bob Bailey as detective-for-hire George Valentine. Clients came to Valentine's office after reading a newspaper carrying his classified ad: Personal notice: Danger's my stock in trade. If the job's too tough for you to handle, you've got a job for me. George Valentine.

“Lights Out,” a popular old-time radio program and an early example of a network series devoted mostly to horror and the supernatural, aired on different networks from January 1934 to the summer of 1947. 

Tickets for the October 30 “Terror on the Mike” benefit performance ($12.00) and October 29 children’s show ($5.00) are on sale now at the Shadowland Theatre box office at 157 Canal Street or by phone at 845-647-5511. 

About Shadowland Theatre

Shadowland Theatre is the leading professional nonprofit Actors’ Equity company in the Lower Hudson Valley/Catskill Mountain region.  Located 90 miles from New York City in Ellenville, NY Shadowland was named “Best Theatre” in 2004 and 2005 in the “Best of the Valley” award program by Hudson Valley Magazine; “2006 Cultural Business of the Year” by Ulster Development Corporation and Ulster County Chamber of Commerce; “Best Theatre 2006″ by the Times Herald Record; and “Best Drama of the Year” by The Daily Record in NJ for The Good German.  Founded in 1984, Shadowland performs in a restored 1920’s Art Deco vaudeville/movie house converted to a 148-seat theatre.  For more information, visit www.shadowlandtheatre.org.