Fairfield arts center to host Barhydt Organ vintage Halloween party

The Fairfield Arts & Convention Center’s Barhydt Organ Spotlight Series will feature live accompaniment to vintage silent thriller Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27.

The performance will open with a 1920s themed Halloween party at 6:30 p.m. Fairfield Arts & Convention Center invites audiences to “get their shriek on” with a Prohibition-style Halloween party. Guests will take a trip back in time and witness John Barrymore's legendary genius for horror with Paramount Pictures' 1920 film, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde—the way audiences would have experienced it when it screened for the very first time.

Jay Warren provides the original vintage organ accompaniment to this silent thriller to give chills in the spine with every bump in the night.

The party begins at 6:30 p.m. with Speakeasy-style cocktails, blackjack, dancing, and more. Audiences are invited to come out bedecked in their best 1920s styles to celebrate Halloween week at the most Gatsby-esque party in town.

One of America's foremost photoplay organists, Jay Warren brings all the color, excitement, and glamour of the silent film era back to life with his original scores for the silver screen. As a regularly featured photoplay organist for the Silent Film Society of Chicago, he has accompanied most of the great silent films throughout his 40 year career in his famous rousing style.

Warren has been featured annually for the society's highly regarded Silent Summer Film Festival since its inception in 2000. Jay has appeared 14 times playing the huge E.M. Skinner pipe organ for silent films at the University of Chicago's famed Rockefeller Memorial Chapel. He also performs film accompaniment on the beautiful Letourneau pipe organ in the Crimi Auditorium of Aurora University. Jay has also made several silent film photoplay appearances on the incredible 5 manual Wurlitzer located at the Sanfilippo Foundation's Place de la Musique.

Admission to the Barhydt Organ Spotlight Series and pre-show party is free. Voluntary donations will be accepted at the door. Learn more at fairfieldacc.com.