LebTown attends read-through of Gretna Theatre’s ‘Whispers in the Dark’

Retelling folklore from Lebanon County and beyond, Gretna Theatre storytellers will guide guests through Mount Gretna’s woods as part of the “Whispers in the Dark” series, with 24 shows planned Oct. 9 through 18.

Read More: Gretna Theatre offers immersive show for ‘thrill-seekers and theatre lovers’

On Sept. 29, the cast came together to read through their lines. Unlike traditional theater, which portrays a cast bouncing off one another to tell a cohesive story, “Whispers in the Dark” is made up of multiple short stories, each told by a different narrator.

As the cast read their parts — some for the first time — director Megan Baum offered feedback to pull the show together and keep the experience tight and cohesive.

Baum, alongside Alex Bannon, Rachel Strayer, and Frith Rooney of Creative Works of Lancaster, wrote the stories incorporating folklore and legends, both modern and historical, local and global.

“[Artistic director] Michael O’Brien had the idea of doing scary campfire stories and the urban legend idea grew from there,” Baum explained over text. “Creative Works of Lancaster is an organization that works with local playwrights, so I thought they would be a good fit to develop the show. Lydia Brubaker, their executive director, facilitated getting us with their writers, and the writers wrote multiple pieces based off of urban legends that ‘spoke’ to them.”

The show puts the story of the hounds of Colebrook Furnace — an oft repeated local legend — alongside tales about Bloody Mary and Bigfoot (which, surprisingly, has its fair share of local connections), as well as a host of other stories.

Read More: The Colebrook Furnace ghost story

Actors will walk guests on a path through the woods and around the playhouse after dark, with times at 6:30, 7, 7:30, and 8 p.m. each night Oct. 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, and 18.

“The behind-the-scenes aspect is definitely a little more daunting than a standard show, in my opinion,” explained Baum. “Whereas a standard show is stationary, timing is everything in a production like this. We need to make sure the scenes are the appropriate length, the jouney for the audience is seamless, the timing has to be perfect so that our groups don’t run into each other … it’s more like conducting an orchestra.

“That being said, there is something entirely unique about being able to use the elements of the nature around us to create the production, to bring the spooky and haunting feelings of the piece to life.”

While Baum didn’t want to give too much away, she explained that the show will include costumes and some effects to add to the ominous atmosphere.

“It’s another challenge because we want them to feel cohesive without taking you out of the world of urban legends,” she said. “It’s a difficult needle to thread.”

More information about the show is available at the Gretna Theatre website. Tickets are $25 per person.