By Sara Beth Williams–
The Mesa Verde Theater department is hosting its fifth annual ‘Ghost Tours’ this Halloween season. Ghost Tours performances are scheduled for Oct. 23, 24, and 25 at 7 p.m. with an additional alumni preview night Tuesday, Oct. 21.
Participants are taken on “ghost tours,” or a guided tour through Mesa Verde’s campus at dusk where they encounter “ghosts” who share their sordid tales of sorrows. This event is considered PG 13 for references to graphic content and potentially scary encounters.
In past years, those embarking on ghost tours have encountered both local “ghosts” like Luella Horton and famous names like The Zodiac Killer. The tour guides and ghosts are played by Mesa Verde students.
In years past, theater teacher Sean Melby said several of the “ghosts” were portrayed by alumni theater students as well as current Mesa Verde theater students.
Melby called the Ghost Tours a “unique” theatrical experience that “flips the script” on traditional sit-down theater performances.
Melby said he enjoys putting together the Ghost Tours event for the fall because it provides students who are new to theater with an opportunity to practice and learn theater for an individual performance, instead of a large group performance. Melby said from an actor’s standpoint, it’s more “digestible.” This year, Melby said he had twice as many students audition as he did last year.
Many of the student actors are part of Mesa Verde’s Professional Theater Career Technical Education Pathway which is a program for students interested in acting, creative writing, set design and costume design. The pathway includes four classes: Introduction to theater, Professional theater, Writing for the stage and Stage production.
Ghost Tours will depart at 7 p.m. from the Performing Arts Center at Mesa Verde High School and guests are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes early. Adult tickets are $10 and student tickets are $5. Tickets are available for purchase online, here, or at the door. All proceeds go to support the Mesa Verde Theatre Program.
Mesa Verde High School is located at 7501 Carriage Drive.
