All Souls to All Saints

There's this cool thing that I've never attended but have participated in that I think you'd like. I mean, who wouldn't?

The Halloween Extravaganza and Procession of Ghouls at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. Every year the cathedral shows a classic silent film complete with organ music accompaniment. After the movie there's smoke and a procession of ghouls created by Ralph Lee and embodied by a few of his many followers. The cathedral is mostly lit by candles and the music is amazing and no matter your age you'll be some combination of fascinated and scared out of your seat by the procession.

This year's movie is Lon Chaney's Phantom of the Opera.

I can't tell you whether I'll be performing yet. I haven't asked if I can. If so I'll probably do the late show since I'm a relative newbie.

The cool New York serendipity story is that when I was a kid Ralph Lee's Mettawee River Theatre Company came to Prescott Park every year and my dad loved them so we always went and saw what they were doing. I followed their short parades, I watched them build masks, I moved around to every seat in the audience for their shows. It was like some sort of magician came down from a mountain to grant my community an audience once a year. Years later I come to New York, I start working with my mentor and at one point she introduces me to a fellow dancer and teacher. That fellow turns out to be Lee's daughter. It was like meeting royalty! And thanks to her I know about this event and I've even dressed in the man's costumes!

You can't get a much better endorsement than that, can you?

Here's the scoop:

Halloween Extravaganza & Procession of Ghouls
Fri. Oct. 28 at 7 PM & 10 PM

Featuring the 1928 classic horror silent film Phantom of the Opera, starring Lon Chaney, this is one of the Cathedral's unique and popular events, an evening of thrills and chills. The film is followed by the frightful pageantry of The Grand Procession of the Ghouls. Staged by Ralph Lee, the Obie Award-winning creator of New York City's Halloween Parade, the Procession is a theatrical tapestry of fabulous puppets, creatures and special effects. A memorable Halloween experience for young and old. Tickets: $15; students and seniors $8.