‘Headless Horseman’ set to haunt Grafton — virtually

Despite the pandemic, Grafton High School’s dramatic teens are making sure the show will go on.

Grafton High School Theatre proudly presents the radio production of “The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow” which will be streamed online Saturday, November 21, 7:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Visit https://www.graftontheatre.com to stream it.

 Faced with the difficulties of producing a piece of theatre during the times of the pandemic, the high school theatre department has risen quickly to the occasion to find a creative solution to continue entertaining the community. 

Last spring, Grafton High School’s highly anticipated production of “Grease” was canceled due to COVID-19 only three weeks shy of performance dates.

“We were determined to find a way to produce a performance for the fall that wouldn’t be compromised,” said director Lisa Scarlett. “With so much uncertainty in the world, the consistency of our student’s theatre experience and maintaining an outlet for self-expression and socialization seemed as important as ever.” 

Scarlett and her collaborator, production consultant Matt Mariner, brainstormed options for the fall play.

“We are excited to take this opportunity while we are physically apart to revisit the old-fashioned art-form of a radio drama,” Mariner said. “This art-form brought relief to many during World War II so it is interesting to reimagine the genre now.” Scarlett and Mariner agreed that Sleepy Hollow was the perfect option for the Halloween and Thanksgiving season in New England. 

Unlike some traditional radio dramas, this online radio play will contain both a visual and an audio component. Actors perform filmed on-screen in-costume for some segments, and during other segments the video portion contains visual imagery that follows the narration of the story. The production also features various vintage ads created by the cast promoting local Grafton business sponsors. 

This adaption of“The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow” written by Tony “Sparx” Palermo is a retelling of Washington Irving’s short story. Palermo’s dramatization follows the villagers of Sleepy Hollow as they come to meet their new schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane. However, there is a dark history to this land and a dark cloud hovering over the inhabitants of Sleepy Hollow. While staying in the town, Ichabod Crane constantly dreams of a headless horseman chasing him, asking for his head. On Halloween night, as Ichabod travels alone past the local grave-yard, the horseman appears chasing him in the flesh. 

Grafton High School students Abby Hise, Aili Schiavoni, Alma Mwangi, Anna Fiore, Belle Geoffroy, Helena Firlings, Jonathan Fields, Lauren LeClair, Libby Grace, Maggie Mussler, Mia O’Donnell, Ryan Tierney, Sophie Coldwell, and Zayda Waters appear as cast members, while Ainsley Marr, Chase Landry, Juliana Kallio, Kiera Mills, Madie Geoffroy and Zoe Mumford serve as crew members. The production is directed and produced by Lisa Scarlett with support from Matt Mariner, Michele Landry, and John Aurin.

To stream the production, visit https://www.graftontheatre.com and watch Grafton Theatre’s social media accounts for more details.