The Call of the Ghost
There is a deep magic in ghost stories, a spell that brews in our wonderfully irrational passion for life. We transcend the expectations of our hearts and minds: we relish the fear, the terror, the surprise. Something is out there, and instead of turning away, we embrace our mortality: we dance in the graveyard, we dress up in shadows, and sometimes we laugh in the darkness.
For hundreds of years writers have taken us by the hand and led us into old houses filled with apparitions: phantoms woven from memories and dreams and the dark core of our humanity. These tales are explorations of our souls, where characters cross the line between life and death, caught in situations that often draw out their deepest feelings. The supernatural teaches us what is natural: frailty, and strength, loss and recovery. The nurturing power of imagination.
We began Whispering Bones in 2011 with a goal of bringing some of these stories to light and have performed at a number of venues throughout the region to large and receptive audiences. This year once again our talented performers have created a show that is fun, scary and thought provoking.
Join us! Kelvin Keraga, Producer
Dr. Betterov-Underhill and Friends
Once again we've assembled a cast of talented performers to drive you to the edge of madness.
Siri Allison has always been captivated by stories. As a child, she read stacks of books. She studied theater and acted in NYC, and finally, through her children, discovered the world of storytelling. Today she tells stories around the region and has also begun working on plays with the great folks at Fort Salem Theater. She helps produce the monthly show “Word Plays" for Story Circle of the Capital District. www.siriallison.com
Barbara Chepaitis is author of 12 published novels, and two books of nonfiction. She teaches performance and public speaking at St. Rose and is a regular co-host of WAMC’s Vox Pop: The Writer’s Forum. She lives with her husband, various dogs, cats and chickens outside of Albany, NY.
Lâle Davidson is a seasoned storyteller and the author of the novels Blue Woman Burning, a magical realist coming of age novel, Against the Grain, an environmental thriller with a mystical twist, and Beyond Sight, a ghost story set in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her collection of magical realist short stories Strange Appetites won the Adirondack Center for Writing’s People’s Choice Award, and as a professor of fiction writing and public speaking, she won the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Creative Activity. Visit www.laledavidson.com for more information.
Jeannine Haas is Artistic Director of Pauline Productions based in Ashfield MA. A professional Actress/Director/Arts Educator, she has worked with theatre companies throughout the Pioneer Valley and surrounds including TTP at Majestic Theater, New Century Theatre, Chester Theatre, Real Live Theatre, Silverthorne Theater, Berkshire Voices and Cambridge Theatre Co. This Spring, she created the First Person Fresh Women's Solo Festival at Easthampton's Cityspace. Favorite roles include Madame Arcati (Berkie Award nominee for Blithe Spirit), The Poet (An Iliad), Vivian Bearing (Wit), Ruth (Collected Stories) and multiple roles (Mystery of Irma Vep) and (Parallel Lives aka Kathy & Mo Show). Eternal gratitude for my "partner in crime" Alice Barrett.
Tanya Gorlow is pleased to be performing in Whispering Bones for a second time! Favorite roles include HAMLET in the play’s titular role, Beatrice in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in the same production, Cindy in FEFU AND HER FRIENDS, and Tybalt, Paris, and Lady Capulet in Romeo & Juliet. Huge thanks and love to Kerry, the fam, and Getty.
Kerry Kazmierowicztrimm is an actor and playwright. Favorite roles include Malvolio (Twelfth Night), Jaques (As You Like It), and Jud Fry (Oklahoma!). He was recently seen as Patrick Duff in 13 Suits: A Mother's Monologues at Capital Repertory Theatre. Over 600 productions of his shows have been staged in 20 countries, 9 of his scripts are published, and his newest musical recently premiered in Poland. Much love to Tanya, Getty and Ragu. www.kerrykaz.com
Kelvin Keraga, a.k.a. Dr. Erastus Betterov Underhill is an actor, storyteller and writer living in Greenwich, New York. He is the creator of Whispering Bones and has produced and performed in it for the last twelve years. Favorite acting roles include Bruce in Marie and Bruce, Basil in The Diviners, and the Fool in King Lear. He helped save Erica’s baby on All My Children (who unfortunately grew up to be a rather difficult son.) His story, “A Light Snow Falling” was a finalist in the Tiferet Journal Fiction Writing Contest, and he has performed for the National Storytelling Network.
Tony Malikowski is a newly retired science and technology teacher, but also a voice actor, singer, juggler, writer and storyteller. A veteran of community theater musicals, talent shows and cabarets, his favorite roles include Skye Masterson (Guys and Dolls), Joseph (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) and Brother Dominic (Nunsense). He is looking forward to spending more time on his creative pursuits and to performing for audiences that are not required to attend under threat of in-school detention. He lives in Williamstown, MA with his wife and future improv partner Rachel.
Cindy Parrish is a playwright, multimedia performer, filmmaker, and educator. Cindy directed and wrote the play and adapted to the screen, HEROIC GIRLZ and MAKING HISTORY, which won awards from the National Women’s Hall of Fame, the Friends of the Women’s Rights National Convention, and the Moondance Film Festival, and has screened at the United Nations. Cindy’s award-winning work includes MAGIC PLANET, RIVER RATS (a family film airing on Showtime), and WomAnimal, a one-woman show performed at the Berkshire 10x10 Festival and Women’s Shorts Festival. Her musical, Jolie Rouge, was a semi-finalist at the 2020, Eugene O'Neill National Music Theater Conference. A professional storyteller, Cindy is a founding member of the storytelling troupe, The Snickering Witches, and the performance poetry troupe, ARCHEtEXT. Cindy’s recent work has been as an educator for justice-impacted learners at Rikers Island.
Siri, Lâle and Kelvin are members of Story CIrcle of the Capital District.