Blog

Night of the Living Dead is a Great Way to Celebrate the Season

By Mario Muscar

It’s that time of year again. The time when people are surrounding themselves with scary decorations, costumes, candy and more. And if you are like me, you like to watch scary movies too.

And you have a chance to enjoy one of the greatest horror movies of all time at Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre this coming weekend. Night of the Living Dead, the 1968 independent film directed by George A. Romero, will be playing at Towngate. The chance to view this cult classic at a unique theater like Towngate should not be passed up.

I recently re-watched the film myself and, like every other time I have viewed it, I truly enjoyed not only the horror aspects of the movie, but the subtext and message that Romero is conveying about us as people.

Warning: I am going to discuss the movie’s plot. If you haven’t seen Night of the Living Dead, I would recommend heading over to Towngate this weekend before reading the rest of this blog. You owe it to yourself to take in this little piece of cinematic and horror genre history. And local history too! Romero shot the film just outside of Pittsburgh.

Night of the Living Dead Started the Zombie Fiction Genre

Night of the Living Dead set the stage for all modern zombie fiction. Romero presented the idea that, while the zombies are all around and could kill you at any minute, it’s really the people who are the problem. Infighting and disagreements among the living are where the true story lies. And Night of the Living Dead handles all this across the course of the film. From the beginning in the graveyard to the end in the Pennsylvania farmhouse, Romero explores how human beings would handle a crisis in which their very lives are on the line and you don’t know who to trust.

When Barbra stumbles into the farmhouse after her brother has been killed by a zombie, she is greeted by our leading man, Ben. Duane Jones played the role of Ben and was unique in that he was an African American actor as the lead against a houseful of white characters. It gives the movie great resonance as it was released during the heights of the civil rights movement in America. And Ben’s fate at the end of the movie is still very relevant today.

So ramble like a zombie over to Towngate this weekend and take in this classic film on the big screen.

Go & See

See Night of the Living Dead at Towngate:
Friday, October 27 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Sunday, October 29 at 7 p.m.

Tickets for all screenings can be purchased at the door and are $7 per person. Box office opens one hour prior to each screening.  You can purchase beer, wine, soda, water, popcorn and candy at all Towngate movies.

Towngate’s “Reluctant Dragon” Engages Children with Empowering Messages

Not All Dragons Are Scary; Not All Heroes Carry Swords

Oglebay Institute presents “The Reluctant Dragon” for one-show only at 3 p.m. Saturday, November 4 at Towngate Theatre.

Part of Towngate’s children’s theater season, this delightful tale follows the unlikely friendship between a peace-loving, poetry-spouting dragon who prefers a cup of tea to a battle and a young boy and his sister.

Filled with colorful costumes and valuable moral lessons, this enchanting production is a great way for children to enjoy an “enriching and memorable live stage performance in an intimate theater setting,” said Oglebay Institute director of performing arts Tim Thompson.

Show Explores Themes of Peaceful Conflict Resolution

The show explores serious themes of bullying, prejudice, self-esteem and conflict resolution through non-violence.

“It also includes very empowering, positive messages about friendship, honor and loyalty, ” Thompson said. “It does so through captivating and colorful characters and an engaging plot that captures and holds the attention of young audiences.”

Audiences Participate, too!

There will be plenty of audience participation, too.  Children in the audience will portray the villagers, who will respond to cues during the play.

Thompson will give an introduction prior to the performance and explain to the audience how they can participate throughout.  After the show, families are invited onstage to meet the characters, see the set and look backstage.

The show is adapted for the stage from the 19th Century children’s book by Kenneth Grahame. While true to the spirit and language of the charming original, this adaptation embraces the dramatic power of what happens when misunderstanding escalates into prejudice and violence.

“The dragon in our story is far from a fire-breathing monster. He is a shy, peaceful fellow. Unfortunately, the villagers blame the dragon for their misfortunes and summon a famous dragon slayer to rid the village of this creature they see as a dangerous nuisance,” Thompson explained. “The dragon’s young friends convince the villagers that violence is not the answer.”

Cast members include Zachary Michael, Kacie Craig, Evan Oslund and Thompson. Thompson directs the show. Dave Henderson designed the set.

The November 4 show is the only public performance of the production, which has traveled to area schools in four counties as part of Oglebay Institute’s educational outreach program.

Get Tickets

“The Reluctant Dragon” will be staged at Towngate Theatre at 3 p.m. Saturday, November 4.

All tickets are $8.  Purchase tickets at www.oionline.com, by calling 304-242-7700 or at the door, if available.

Experience the Magic of Children’s Theater…

Want to boost literacy? Teach your child to imagine the unimaginable? Cultivate curiosity? Go to the theater, and bring your kids.

Plays ignite the imagination and bring stories to life. Words and characters jump from the page to the stage, thus connecting children to the importance of reading.   They learn valuable lessons, too. Theater teaches skills such as empathy, critical thinking and teamwork. Kids watch the actors working together onstage. They see that REAL people are behind entertainment and realize performers are not just images on TV or computer screens. Live action happens right before their eyes. There’s no app for that! All their senses are engaged “in the moment.” Nothing can be paused or muted.  Some may even discover the actor, director or writer within themselves. Most of all, you get to spend quality time as a family.  Theater is a social experience meant to be shared with one another. So, gather the kids, go to Towngate and experience the magic of theater together.

Keeping the Community in Community Theater in Wheeling. . .

Located in Wheeling’s historic Centre Market District, Towngate is a cornerstone of creative life in Wheeling and serves as an entertainment destination for residents of the Ohio Valley and beyond. People of all ages and backgrounds gather here to create and experience art onstage. Most of all, Towngate celebrates the essential power of theater to illuminate our common humanity. The community enjoys and participates in hundreds of live performances, classes and workshops year-round.