The Center For Puppetry Arts Annual ‘Ghastly Dreadfuls’ Show Goes Virtual

“The Ghastly Dreadfuls” will make their annual appearance on Oct. 31.

Center for Puppetry Arts

Like everything else in 2020, Halloween will be different this year. But celebrating with the Center for Puppetry Arts will remain a tradition.

The Ghastlies” will be hosting their annual event virtually this year on Halloween. The adults-only vaudeville-esque show has been around since 2005. The Center’s Jon Ludwig and Jason Hines created the idea from a wide range of spooky tales and satirical writings.

“City Lights” host Lois Reitzes spoke with executive director Beth Schiavo and the World of Puppetry Museum director Jill Malool about this year’s spooky digital programming. “The Ghastly Dreadfuls: Ex-ZOOM’d from the Tomb” will be on Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m.

“‘The Ghastly Dreadfuls’ has become an important part of the holiday Halloween here in Atlanta,” Malool said. “It’s this wonderful sort of vaudevillian collection of puppet vignettes that are Halloween related and with some wonderful songs, some of that you can recognize. Just some really great energy.”

Some virtual offerings:

  • The Ghastlies will present a new performance of “The Ghastly Dreadfuls: Ex-ZOOM’d from the Tomb.”
  • A special exhibit at the Center, “A Gathering of Ghastlies: Puppets from The Ghastly Dreadfuls.” The exhibit will showcase memorable puppets from performances of the past 15 years.
  • A screening from the 2016 performance of “The Ghastly Dreadfuls”
  • Digital costume parade with submissions from audiences by using the hashtag #GhastlyParade
  • Create your own Catly Dreadful puppet, which can be found on their Etsy page.
  • Lady Dreadful will teach audiences how to make fun cocktail concoctions