The Ghosts of Desert Star

This Halloween season it only seems appropriate to talk about our friendly ol’ playhouse ghosts. While I can neither confirm nor deny the presence of these specters, many employees will tell you that Desert Star is definitely haunted. Rumors abound among the staff, and some of the stories don’t seem as crazy as I wish they did. What? No, I’m not afraid of ghosts... 

During my time at the theater I have been regaled with the tales of many a ghost in the mezzanine. There’s one, a cast favorite, that moonlights as a stagehand. Nobody has any tangible proof of these holy ghosts, but nobody can explain how they moved certain giant set pieces on their own either. Fortunately, the phantoms in our playhouse are of the friendly variety. Ask any of the long-time actors about their happy audience members during rehearsals. “There are a couple ghosts that I often see while we’re rehearsing. They’re just sitting out there watching us and having a good time.” - Actor McActerson

The Desert Star is made up of a lot more than just the playhouse, though. The costume closet, that is so densely packed with noise-cancelling cloth and costumery that you feel like you’ve walked into an alternate, soundless dimension, is said to be home to a grumpier spirit who doesn’t take to new people well. She seems to like our costume designers well enough, but survey says don’t be surprised if you hear some unexpected noises or spirited singing coming from there occasionally. 

My personal favorite (or least favorite, depending on how you look at it) is the lady in the back of the dinner theater. Stories of ghosts are all in good fun, as far as I’m concerned, until one of them gets a little too real. On my way out the door after a shift, I found myself following to help a patron who had wandered past the roped-off, unlit entrance of the dinner theater. When asked if he needed help, he told me he was chasing after his son who had wandered under the rope. Sure enough, the kid came running down the opposite staircase seconds later. Before departing on their merry way, the man explained to me that he hadn’t chased after his son because there was a woman in a white dress standing at the top of the stairs and he wasn’t sure if he should go up or not. There was definitely nobody up there. But I had definitely been told about said stereotypical spectre before, and I wasn’t feeling like a dispensable side character that day. I calmly walked with the man back to the playhouse and then booked it home as fast as possible. Consider me spooked!

I do have to say that the stories are compelling. Maybe ghosts aren’t real and the stories are just that. Stories. But I’ll admit that I’ve never gone into the upstairs of the dinner theater without the lights on since, and honestly I avoid it whenever possible. 

Don’t forget, ladies and gentle-spooks: It’s always fun at Desert Star!