“Witches BREW” is a new Halloween-themed performance opening at On Stage Live! at the Luxe starting on Friday, blending classic spooky songs with modern hits crafted to fit the scary theme. The show runs Friday and Saturday, as well as Oct. 20, 21, 27 and 28.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Something wickedly fun is brewing in Greenwood.
The monsters are out, and they’re ready to mash. Take a spooky journey through music from “A Nightmare Before Christmas” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” with your otherworldly hosts — four witches, a vampire and a werewolf.
Stir in a little Edgar Allen Poe and you’ve got campy, creepy party like none other.
“It’s a Halloween extravaganza,” said Conner Becker-Chamberlin, who plays the vampire in the show as well as being staging director. “It’s an experience where we want the audience to participate, to get up and dance, sing the songs with us.”
“Witches BREW” opens Friday at at On Stage Live! at the Luxe. From classic Halloween songs to modern pop hits with a horror twist, the show promises to have audiences bopping in their seats while their skin crawls.
The subtle undercurrent of the show is the theme of “being yourself.”
Cast members have been hard at work for weeks making sure the performance strikes the right balance between fun and fearful. They hope that people enjoy themselves, while also taking away the sense that they can be comfortable in their own skin.
“It’s okay to be who you are — 100% of who you are. Sometimes, we have a tendency to hide away the bad and always put on that smile. But it’s okay to embrace the craziness life throws at you,” said Jennifer Richins, who plays one of the witches.
“Witches BREW” carries on the strong revival of musical theater in Greenwood with On Stage Live! at the Luxe, a partnership between founder Christopher Tompkins and owners of the Luxe Event Center. The venture grew out of Stage to Screen Catered Cabaret, Tompkins’ former effort to bring professional theater experiences to southside audiences.
Though Stage to Screen was forced to close due to the pandemic in 2020, Tompkins’ dream was reborn in early 2023 with On Stage Live! Previous shows have focused on Elvis Presley and other musical legends such as Whitney Houston, Diana Ross and Barbra Streisand.
Richins has been part of On Stage Live! since it returned. She had been part of the performing casts in Stage to Screen, though to this point had only worked behind the scenes to help.
Getting back on stage for this particular show has been like coming home.
“Halloween is absolutely my favorite season, so I was all about it,” she said.
Becker-Chamberlin has been performing for more than 20 years — a variety of dancing, singing and being cast in musicals. When he moved to Greenwood two years ago, he was on the search for new experiences to perform near his home.
On Stage Live! has been a great fit for him — particularly this show.
“With this show specifically, I love the spooky season, and I was intrigued by the character I get to play,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun. This cast and On Stage Live! in general, everyone is very personable and easy to work with. It’s felt like we’ve all had our own input as we’ve put this production together.”
“Witches BREW” unfolds like on a storytelling journey, using Poe’s writing as a guide supported by a variety of music. Music has been selected from Halloween-centric movies such as “Hocus Pocus” and “The Addams Family,” as well as recent top 40 Billboard hits including “Heathens” by Twenty One Pilots.
You might get an Olivia Newton-John song next to a piece from the musical “Sweeney Todd.”
“It has music that is solo pieces, duets, ensemble numbers with everything from pop to musical theater,” said Eric DeForest, who serves as production manager of the show and also portrays the werewolf. “There’s a little bit of something for everyone in there.”
DeForest is a classically trained singer, but had not done musical theater in this vein for years. When he auditioned for Tompkins for the show, he was offered the production manager role. The more he started assembling the music and dancing behind “Witches BREW,” he started to see how much fun it would be to be involved with.
“I thought the public would love it,” he said.
Richins credits the dedication of the staff, and the chemistry that they’ve developed, with making the show so successful.
“We really have a lot of fun with each other,” she said. “That doesn’t always happen. You don’t always get to work with people you get along with. But in this case, we really do all get along well.”
“Witches BREW” runs through the next three weekends, and is envisioned as a family-friendly night out to celebrate Halloween. DeForest hopes that people can make some memories together while supporting the local arts.
“We want people to have a wonderful time and feel energized with Halloween, having a lot of family fun and just feeling happy,” he said.
IF YOU GO
“Witches BREW”
What: A Halloween-themed musical production featuring classic spooky season songs as well as Top 40 hits.
When: Friday, Saturday, Oct. 20, 21, 27 and 28.
Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. all nights; 2 p.m. show on Oct. 20.
Where: On Stage Live! at the Luxe, 916 E. Main St., Greenwood
Tickets: $25 general admission, $15 for ages 6 to 15
Information and purchasing: onstageliveattheluxe.com
