Next NL show will be based on ‘Goosebumps’ book

March 1 and 2 rapidly approach. It is time to get your tickets for this popular musical, based on “Phantom of the Auditorium” — book 24 of the bestselling Goosebumps series. This series is written by R.L. Stine and published by Scholastic. The series is designed to captivate any reader who likes suspense, horror and fantasy. The readers try to solve a mystery while doing the right thing. The books are creative and captivating stories.

John Maclay and Danny Abosch joined forces to create the music and lyrics. The song “The Story of the Phantom” is going viral on many social media platforms and is proving to be a bestseller on Amazon’s Hot New Release chart.

The lead characters Brooke and Zeke are starring in a mysterious show called The Phantom. This show has a legend that the play is cursed. They, of course, do not believe the story until strange messages begin appearing at rehearsals. A masked menace also appears and disrupts the actors’ efforts. Suddenly, Brooke and Zeke begin to wonder if there is a ghost haunting their school.

What is “THE LEGEND?” The story occurs in Zeke’s and Brooke’s very own school 73 years ago. Ms. Walker’s (play director) great-grandmother Abigail Walker was the first who attempted to produce The Phantom. The boy who found the original script was cast in the title role but the night the play was to open, he vanished and was never seen again. The principal closed the production, fired Abigail and ordered all the scripts destroyed. Abigail kept one copy. This fanciful story is not true but according to theatre superstition, the boy haunts the school to prevent the play from being performed.

THE STORY OF THE PHANTOM (a quick reminder): An ancient theatre is haunted by a Phantom. It turns out that a man lives in the tunnel and is a gifted composer. He is cast out by society because his face is scarred. He wears a mask. He and Esmerelda fall in love through their shared love of music. However, Esmerlda’s lover, Raoul, attacks the Phantom. The Phantom welcomes his death. The haunted spirit of the Phantom lives in the theatre making it impossible to use.

The authors of the musical cleverly weave these two legends together. Come to the play! The plot is involved with lots of twists and turns. You will love it. Meet Brooke’s understudy, the trap door with the creepy tunnel, the school’s janitor, the new cute boy from Indiana. See how they add to the story. Try to figure out what will happen next.

Performances are 7 p.m. March 1, 2 p.m. Matinee March 2 and closing performance 7 p.m. March 2. The music is outstanding and many of the audience will find them familiar. The cast is a great mixture of upcoming performers and experienced artists. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy a great night at the “opera” — OOPS — auditorium.