ASHTABULA — Nobody knows more about dressing in wild costumes and makeup than the staff and volunteers at the Ashtabula Arts Center.
“Stage Fright!” will fill the center with a full evening of Halloween fun for adults age 21 and over Saturday.
This fundraising party will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight and will feature three rotating bands, The Blues Project, The King Pins and Bar Trek who have all volunteered to play throughout the event.
The evening will also include a 50/50 raffle, costume contests and more. A buffet of snacks and hors d'oeuvres such as “sweet and sour eyeballs,” “mildewed spinach nibbles” and “mummy wraps” will be served and there will be a beer and wine cash bar.
Last year's party was such a success that the arts center staff said it was anxious to repeat it again this year. With theater prop cabinets bursting at the hinges they have lots of things that can be used for great decorations and what they don't already have, their art department can make. Partygoers will see tombstones and an old coffin that has been seen on stage several times in show such as “Evita.”
A number of female volunteers who will spend the evening selling raffle tickets and leading contests will be made up to look like Frankenstein's brides, wearing old bridal gowns found in the theater's costume loft. Tim Dorman, who does much of the lighting design for the Arts Center's theatrical productions, will be designing lighting for the party as well as putting together some old horror movie and spooky comedy show clips that will be shown on the large expanse of walls in the gallery.
“We are very grateful to the bands and the many volunteers and donors who are coming together to make the party a success,” says spokeswoman Pamela Hammond. “Our staff is already hard at work to make this year's party another great success.”
Tickets are available for sale at the arts center, 2928 W. 13th St. or by phone at 964-3396. Tickets are $15 per person, age 21 and over only. Underage ticket holders will not be admitted. Ticket sales are limited to 150 persons.
