Bright Star Touring Theatre adapts 'Sleepy Hollow' for children

With period costumes and a spooky backdrop, the Headless Horseman galloped to haunt children at the Orange County Main Library in Hillsborough.

Performing before an audience of about 15 kids and their families, Bright Star Touring Theatre put on the Washington Irving classic, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” on Tuesday. But instead of being frightened, children screamed with laughter as the actors leaped around the stage.

“We just love that story,” said Erin Schmidt, theater manager of the Asheville-based troupe. “The actors are really excited about it.”

Though she’s only worked for Bright Star for a few months, Schmidt said the play and performers are always well-received by the audience.

“It’s one that families tend to enjoy watching,” she said.

Schmidt said since the play is made for children, it isn’t as scary as the original story. But that didn’t stop it from being fun.

Eight-year-old Harry Frazier said he loves the programs at the library and comes to them often.

“My favorite part was when the Headless Horseman chased Ichabod,” he said.

Another child in the audience, 6-year-old Moriah Kimrey, said she didn’t think the Headless Horseman was a real ghost. She just thought one of the characters was playing a prank on Ichabod.

Louise Bendall, a library assistant, said the library tries to put on a Halloween event each year. The library scheduled this performance during regular after-school program hours so the children would be sure to attend.

She said she loves to see the children enjoying the library’s programs, and she said the others who work at the library enjoy it just as much as the children.

“We’re using it as an excuse to put on some costumes and have a good time,” Bendall said.

Ramon Perez, an actor working with Bright Star — who performed the roles of Brom Bones and Ichabod Crane — said despite the tediousness of traveling all over to perform shows, the performance aspect makes it worthwhile.

Perez also said he loves integrating the audience into the performance, a characteristic of most of the Bright Star productions.

“It keeps the audience involved,” he said.

Perez told the audience the aim of their play was to get the audience thinking. The group leaves all of their plays open-ended so the children can decide the ending for themselves.

Katherine Yacko, an actress who played the Headless Horseman, Katrina Van Tassel and the witch, said she loves bringing theater to kids.

“You feel like a rock star,” she said.

Contact the desk editor at city@dailytarheel.com.