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Spectacles Offer A Frightening Time For Halloween

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By MEGAN HUSSEY, Tribune correspondent

Published: October 13, 2007

Whether one wants to check out a scary fairy tale, an interactive murder mystery or a tale of ancient Egypt, live entertainment will be in abundant supply this Halloween in Pasco County.

'Once Upon a Time' will be the theme of this year's Land O' Lakes Community Center haunted house activity, Thursday through Oct. 20 at the center.

Although the house will feature scenes and characters from children's classics such as 'Snow White,' 'Sleeping Beauty,' 'Alice in Wonderland,' 'Little Red Riding Hood' and Raggedy Ann and Andy, this spooky spectacle is intended for guests ages 9 and older.

'These will be fairy tales with a spooky twist,' said Cindy Szappan, recreation supervisor at the center. 'This is a true haunted house.'

The house will feature live performances of fully costumed volunteers in an elaborately designed enchanted forest setting.

For the younger set, the center also will host a Spooktacular, complete with carnival games, a DJ, a moonwalk, prizes and Spooky Street, a trick or treat activity in which kids knock on the doors of stand-up house fronts and get candy from puppets posted at the doors.

The Pasco County Parks and Recreation Department sponsors these activities, which are free and open to the public.

The parks and recreation department also will host the Halloween Party in the Park Oct. 26 at Shady Hills Park.

All ages are welcome to this free event, which will feature games, refreshments, a disc jockey and a haunted house for children.

For those whose tastes run more toward murder mysteries, Center Stage Theatre and Dance Academy will present its Annual Halloween Murder Mystery Show, 'Murder and Mayhem at the Monster's Ball,' on Friday, Oct. 20, Oct. 26, 28 and 31.

'This is a musical revue and murder mystery for the whole family,' said Ken Coraypo, the show's technical director. 'High-end children's theater.'

Aside from featuring colorful characters such as Spider Princess, Gothic Sister, The Mummy, Medusa, The Gypsy Fortune Teller, Mary Kay the Witch, and The VooDoo Priestess, the show will offer the opportunity for audience members to solve the mystery inherent to its plot and win prizes in the process.

'The kids will give you clues during the performance,' Coraypo said. 'The first prize is $50 worth of merchandise and gift certificates from local merchants.'

All audience members, according to Coraypo, will enjoy the colorful, professional sets and costumes displayed in this show, directed and choreographed by veteran director, actor and set designer Chelle St. Pierre.

'She has more than 20 years of experience, and has worked on stage and in television,' he said.

The event also will feature food items for sale. At the show Oct. 31, audience members can get in on the act by dressing in their favorite costumes for a costume contest with prizes worth $100.

Also this Halloween, Zephyrhills residents can travel to exotic Egypt without leaving town.

As part of its annual participation in Main Street Zephyrhills' annual Halloween Howl, which will take place from 4-9 p.m. Oct. 27, Goin' Postal - a packing and shipping store at 38439 Fifth Ave. in downtown Zephyrhills - will stage a costumed Halloween presentation based on 'The Mummy' films, plus fun Halloween activities.

'The local packing and shipping store ... will be constructing a giant pyramid, giving away candy, and will host an Egyptian-themed treasure hunt that will end at their very special hands-on educational archeological dig site,' said M.J. Price, president of Goin' Postal Franchise Corp., in a statement.

'The staff members will be dressed as mummies, pharaohs, Egyptian queens, Egyptian gods, explorers and archeologists, and this year's theme was inspired by the movies 'The Mummy' and 'The Mummy Returns'; so be sure to look for some of your favorite characters, such as Evelyn O'Connell/Princess Nefertiri, Rick O'Connell, and maybe even Ardeth Bay.

SOME HALLOWEEN COMMUNITY EVENTS

Land O 'Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O' Lakes Blvd., Land O' Lakes, will host its haunted house and Spooktacular Thursday through Oct. 20; the Haunted House, intended for ages 9 and older, will be open from 7:30-10 p.m.; the Spooktacular, for younger children, will run 6:30-9 p.m. Both events are free; call (813) 929-1229 for information.

Shady Hills Park, 15840 Green Glenn Lane, Shady Hills, will host a Halloween party in the Park from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 26. A children's haunted house, plus games and music will be featured. All ages are welcome at this free event; call (727) 856-7831 for information.

'Murder and Mayhem At the Monster's Ball': Keith and Debbie Snyder present Center Stage Theatre and Dance Academy's annual Halloween murder mystery show, at 5201 U.S. 19 at the Southgate Shopping Center in New Port Richey.

Admission cost is $18 at the door; $15 in advance. Seating is general admission, except for the Oct. 31 show, which is $25 by reservation; no tickets will be sold at the door for this showing.

For information, call Center Stage at (727) 815-0100.

Goin' Postal, 38439 Fifth Ave. in Zephyrhills, will host a free event from 4-9 p.m. Oct. 27 at the store. This presentation, centered around the theme 'Mummies, Pharaohs and Hieroglyphs ... Oh My!' will involve costumes, candy and an Egyptian-themed treasure hunt that ends at an educational archeological dig. Call (813) 782-1500 for information.

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