The Legend of Sleepy Hollow 
PUBLIC PERFORMANCES:
Sunday, October 22 – 2:00pm
Saturday, October 28 – 2:00 & 7:00pm
Sunday, October 29 – 2:00pm
SCHOOL MATINEES:
October 23-26 & 30-31, November 1-3 at 10:00 & 11:45am
Recommended for ages 8+
Recommended for grades 3+
Performed on the LCT Main Stage
By Kathryn Schultz Miller. From the story by Washington Irving.
Description:
In a drowsy, dreary hollow where time stands still, new schoolmaster Ichabod Crane is losing his head over the lovely Katrina. Unfortunately, local brute Brom Bones is vying for her affections as well and making Ichabod’s life terribly difficult. But as night draws in and the stars sink deeper into the sky, Ichabod soon realizes that there may be even worse things in Sleepy Hollow, lurking just over the bridge.
Curricular ties: Colonial America, Classic Literature, Storytelling, Ghost Stories
You’ll like this play if you like stories about: mystery, ghosts, Halloween
Approximately 1 hour long
Get Tickets!
About the Show
“Washington Irving writes this story in a way that doesn’t give a clear answer of what happened, which is the most fun aspect of a legend. The entire story is hearsay and speculation. Is Brom Bones the Headless Horseman? Or is the Headless Horseman a ghost haunting Sleepy Hollow? The audience gets to decide what they think happened, which makes for a really fun story,” says Esther Neel, Director.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a text-heavy show; the script is full of imagery and well-crafted language. This language drives the storytelling and allows the actors to relish the text. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a show that really allows the opportunity to explore the story and the language. Each of the actors brings their own style to the characters; their Ichabod, Brom, and Katrina are very different than any other version of the characters in previous shows. We’re creating our own story,” says Neel.
An actor uses both the text and technical elements to aid in creating the world of the play. “Getting into the mindset of the ‘spirits and goblins’ of Sleepy Hollow is done by embracing the world of the play filled with these characters. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a story about the sort of people that inhabit a bewitched part of America. Words and phrases from the play and story are painted all over the set and costumes as an emphasis on the text of the stories told in Sleepy Hollow. Our set creates a vivid world for us to play in and bring alive for the audience, and it is a spooky world,” says Mark Tucker, who plays Ichabod Crane.
“I get scared when I’m watching Sleepy Hollow rehearsals. Between the costumes, scary sounds, and these actors, I definitely get shivers down my spine,” says Ariel Johnson, Stage Manager.
Mark your calendars for October 22nd, 28th, and 29th for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Come ‘Discover More’ and write your own ghost story with a workshop hosted by our friends at the Carnegie Center! A free pass is required, please contact the Box Office.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is sponsored by Hamburg Pavilion.
Review
My family and I love Halloween and all the spooky fun that comes along with it. Getting a chance to enjoy a theatrical performance that’s a little spooky and a lot of fun is perfect for families looking for a great way to have a hauntingly good time this weekend!
The show is based on the famous tale by Washington Irving. Set back in the late 1700’s there are three actors that do a magnificent job of weaving us through the story of Ichabod Crane, a new schoolmaster in the town of Sleepy Hollow. The set design is full of warm, fall colors and eerie fog wafting through the room. It sets the mood perfectly as we travel back in time to meet our easily frightened friend, Ichabod, played by Mark Andrew Tucker.
The set also assists in creating additional characters with stand up wooden people the actors use throughout the show to speak to and dance with as well as a very cleverly created dog and horse. Seeing the actors use these props to create additional characters is a fun way to teach children that their imaginations can be used to create and perform their own plays at home even without the help of others. It’s always amazing to see how three actors can make the show come to life while playing multiple characters. Watch the costume changes and talk with your children after the show about how the work of the costume artists and the variety of costumes helped define each character.
The play opens on a tavern and talk of ghosts and stories told throughout the town of Sleepy Hollow, one of those tales is that of the Headless Horseman. Our friend Ichabod believes in and is easily frightened by ‘spooks’. Abraham “Brom Bones” Van Brunt, played by John Michael McDonald, can see this very quickly upon meeting Crane. He delights in scaring Crane any chance he can get, including telling the tale of the haunted bridge that Crane must cross each day to get to the schoolhouse. You may even get a bit of a fright during the show courtesy of ole Brom!
As we are taken inside the tavern and also inside Crane’s schoolhouse we meet JaneMarie Erickson in some of her many roles. Each character plays a multitude of people throughout the story. She does a wonderful job of shifting from a Sleepy Hollow Boy to Katrina, a lady both Brom and Crane are trying to woo!
Our three actors weave us through as both Crane and Brom try to win the heart of Katrina. It’s fun to watch the interaction between the two men as they try to outdo each other. There are lots of great laughs thanks to the great expressions John Michael McDonald uses throughout the play! As Brom continues to cause trouble for Crane the story of the Headless Horseman and the haunted bridge become something he uses to scare Crane.
There is a scene at the bridge where Irving allows the audience to draw their own conclusions about what happens to our friend Ichabod. This might become a bit scary for younger children (the show is recommended for ages 8 and up) but it’s very quick and the costumes are beautiful!
Be sure to stop by the front of the house before the show and complete a fun ‘Mad Libs’ wall or fill out a leaf for the response wall.
After the show you can meet the actors and get autographs on your Playbill!
This is a perfect introduction to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow if your children or even you yourself are unfamiliar with the story. If you’re looking for additional reading you can grab a copy of Irving’s original book. There are also movies and kindle versions of the story.
-Betsy, Lex Fun 4 Kids, Owner