THE GENE FRANKEL THEATRE
24 BOND STREET NYC
9 PM - 2 AM
ADVANCE TICKETS SUGGESTED, SPACE IS LIMITED!
$10 JACK THE RIPPER FILM 9:30 PM
FULL EVENING $15 TILL OCTOBER 27, $20 THEREAFTER
ONLINE BOX OFFICE
FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE
Halloween elite team THE JACKIE FACTORY (Jackie 60, Night of 1000 Stevies) return for their sixth annual GHOSTLIGHT, a Halloween theatrical and costume party benefiting the HOWL EMERGENCY LIFE PROJECT (HOWL HELP), the East Village wing of THE ACTORS FUND. The theme of this year's GHOSTLIGHT is BOND STREET BABIES, set in the 1920's Village with its haunted flappers and speakeasies - like our host theater! Dress in ghostly 20s finery, your theatrical costumed best or black tie.
Inside the venerable and haunted GENE FRANKEL THEATRE on Bond Street, the evening's theatre-as-nightclub will again host Downtown performance icons and rising stars from many dynasties. The 2016 bill includes international drag chanteuse SHERRY VINE, Jackie Factory/ Boylesque Dark Star POISON EVE, GHOSTLIGHT favorite SEVERELY MAME, Method burlesque icon THE MAINE ATTRACTION, thesbian goddess HEATHER LITTEER, 20s vintage burlesque star BEE L ZEBABE, the costume genius of ART BY DAVEY and more. Performances are in two sets at 10:30 and and 12:30 - consult mothernyc.com/ghostlight for complete schedule as we get closer.
In a new Ghostlight tradition begun last year, the evening begins with a full screening of East Village/ BLACKLIPS Horror classic JACK THE RIPPER by FLLOYD at 9:30 PM - rarely seen and starring East Village icons like JOHANNA CONSTANTINE, KABUKI STARSHINE, ANTONY and KITTY BOOTS! After Act One performances end, we'll switch to silent and Jazz Age classics in the "Secret Cinema" aka upstairs theatre.
On a night that can be TRULY scary outside, it is a glam sanctuary here: A marvelously mixed and dressed audience, reasonably priced drinks, AND a great cause! GHOSTLIGHT producer CHI CHI VALENTI joins the golden-throated MC PAUL ALEXANDER as the Mistress/Masters of Ceremonies and the divine DJs are JOHNNY "JOLSEN" DYNELL, SAMMY JO and ALTHEA LOVELESS.
An annual fundraiser begun in 2011, GHOSTLIGHT celebrates East Village theatrical traditions and nightclub ghosts of the past 150 years. The show's current venue (since 2013) was the longtime home of East Village theater pioneer, director and acting teacher GENE FRANKEL and is an ideal setting. Frankel (who died in 2005) definitely haunts the premises, as well as various other apparitions from the Theatre's storied past. Winner of the first OBIE for direction in 1959, Gene Frankel's landmark 1961 production of JEAN GENET's play "THE BLACKS" launched the careers of JAMES EARL JONES, CICELY TYSON, LOUIS GOSSETT JR and MAYA ANGELOU, among others.
The 24 BOND STREET building is formerly a hat factory, speakeasy, and avant-garde jazz club and also housed the first studio of photographer ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE. Its GENE FRANKEL THEATRE is home to the brand-new 24 BOND ARTS CENTER, a nonprofit community theater and performance group, along with its resident companies.
SUGGESTED DRESS: Ghostly Flapper, Haunted Theatrical Glamour (all eras), Viper Mad, Black Tie, 20s Glamour, Speakeasy Spook or other Creative Costuming.
