Halloween-themed program set by Monroe Community Players

Spooky Halloween stories and poems will be part of “Things That Go Bump in the Night,” a new readers theater offering from Monroe Community Players.

The one-hour performance will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 29-30 in the Players’ space at the Mall of Monroe, 2121 N. Monroe St.

Tickets are $10 each. For tickets, visit www.monroecommunityplayers.org or call the MCP ticket office at (734) 241-7900.

“Things That Go Bump in the Night" is the first in a new series of live readers theater events created by the Players.

“Readers theater is often called ‘theater of the mind,’” said David P. Wahr. “The only acting is with the voice. To preserve the author’s original intentions, all stories will be presented using the original language. The focus is on the words and the storytellers' ability to convey emotion through mostly voice alone."

Wahr edited and directs the show. He also is one of the storytellers. The others are Mary Barnas, Norb Nowak and Brian Burchette-Ross.

“Things That Go Bump in the Night” will bring to life several classic stories and poems of the Halloween season,” said Wahr. “William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, James Whitcomb Riley and, of course, Washington Irving’s famous story about a headless horseman who haunts a little town called Sleepy Hollow."

In readers theater, sets, props and costumes are few.

“We will have a few set pieces to help set the mood. A campfire, bench and other items (will) suggest telling stories outdoors on a nice, fall night,” said Wahr.

The costumes will have the same theme.

“Often times, readers theater is presented in just street clothes or all black so as not to district from the words. In our case, we’ll be dressed for camping and telling stories around the campfire,” said Wahr. “Flannel will be the shirt of choice for most of the cast.”