By Ruth Firestone
A gala treat is in store for all who love to celebrate Halloween with music, theater, parades, costumes and fun.
And it’s all free and open to the public. The third-annual Hays Symphony Orchestra Halloween party and concert for children will be Sunday, Oct. 28, in and around the FHSU Beach/Schmidt Center for the Performing Arts.
The main attraction, which will begin at 3 p.m., is “The Firebird,” a ballet and orchestral composition by Igor Stravinsky, conducted by Shah Sadikov. Nationally-recognized playwright Catherine Trieschmann has provided a children’s adaptation of the Russian folktales on which the ballet is based. Erin Renard directs the production and Alyssa Dechant serves as choreographer, with costumes by Sasha Hildebrand.
Hays Arts Council director Brenda Meder narrates the story, which is set in the dark forests of Russia. Prince Ivan fights the evil sorcerer Koschei (played by Everett Robert) with the help of the magical Firebird (danced by Brooke Raacke) to free the enchanted animals and princesses (played by area youth and adult actors and dancers).
Festivities will begin at 2 p.m. with family fun activities including an instrument petting zoo, a Russian folktale story time, drumming circle, a Firebird mask craft, and a Halloween costume parade for all ages. Come early wearing your Halloween costume.
Many sponsors have made this gala possible through their generosity, including grants and support from the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, Heartland Community Foundation, Hays Symphony Guild, Hays Arts Council, Smoky Hills Public TV and FHSU Student Chapter of the National Association for Music Education, Redeem Designs and McDonald’s of Hays. Special thanks to Keith and Sandra Gottschalk for providing the free trick-or-treat bags for the first 300 children.
You can reserve free tickets online through the new HSO website — hayssymphony.org, or pick them up around the middle of October at the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau or the Downtown Hays Development Corporation offices. The Symphony is also selling Firebird T-shirts, available for advance order at their website.
For additional information about the event, contact Cathy Drabkin, Hays Symphony marketing chairperson: 785-623-4187 or email [email protected].