When Circuit Arts operations director Kelly Kaye was brainstorming how to reimagine a Halloween celebration in a creative format, she knew she wanted to do something non-traditional. 

“From the jump, what I’ve been adamant about trying to produce is an experience that I haven’t found since I lived here,” she said.

Spirits and Spirits: Hotel Le Grange is dubbed as a multimedia show to celebrate and embrace all things spooky. Performances will be held at the Grange Hall from Oct. 28 to 31. 

Mixing projections, acting, music and ghost stories, attendees are encouraged to come with an open mind, similar to how the cast has been approaching the rehearsal process.  

“There’s this discomfort in the creative process where you have to just trust the others around you,” creative director and actor Danielle Mulcahy said.  

This is the second year of Spirits and Spirits, with last year being the inaugural performance. Ghost stories were relayed to patrons who enjoyed alcohol and concessions. The second iteration will transform the downstairs floor of the historic hall into a hotel lobby bar scene straight out of the 1930s in addition to the main performance.

“We’re really encouraging [people] to show up as soon as the doors open, because you get 45 minutes of the downstairs time,” Ms. Kaye said. “We have the license for beer and wine, so we’ll be serving drinks down there. We’re set dressing down there. We have live music going down there, so it’s very much like you’re checking into the hotel and that’s a portion of the live entertainment.” 

Circuit Arts executive director Brian Ditchfield said that this show is different from others the organization produces thanks to its engaging nature.  

“This one is more immersive than your traditional [show where you] come up and you watch a show,” he said. “You walk in and the experience begins as soon as you walk through.” 

The on-stage cast includes Ms. Mulcahy and Shelagh Hackett with Mac Young serving as narrator. Charlie Esposito, Bill Peek and Peter Halperin will play live music. Ms. Kaye is excited for audiences to see the different mediums of art combine together. 

“It’s really expansive in the way that we’ve engaged a wide breadth of artists in different senses whether they’re playing an instrument or singing or performing,” she said. “I hope people take that away, that they come in and they can get a sense of all the work that went into it. I think, given that it is so multifaceted in what we’re delivering, that it will be hard to miss the intention.”

Even though they’re trying to create something unique, the team hopes that audience members are still able to embrace the traditional ghost story oral experience. 

“People used to hang out around the radio and listen to stories,” Ms. Mulcahey said. “It’s really important to just sit still and listen. That in itself, I think, is an art form that needs to be preserved.” 

Ms. Hackett hopes that people leave the show excited for the next one. 

“[I hope that] it’s a place they want to come to again next year, thinking this was fun. This was comfortable, and there was community, and it was spooky, and it made me think,” she said. 

For ticket information, visit circuitarts.org.