When the Souls Rise (2007)

This phantasmagoric tale is collaborative work by Anne Harris Wilcox, Artistic Director of the Present Tense Dance Company, Rochester sound artist, Ward Hartenstein, and poet and City Newspaper writer, Adam Wilcox.

When the Souls Rise celebrates the mysterious and haunting nature of Halloween without the ghoulishness often associated with the holiday. This original production provides an additional occasion for children and adults to enjoy the unearthly and fantastic spirit of Halloween. As an added treat, this year's production will include members of Drumcliffe Irish Arts including, Artistic Director, Edward J. Murphy, and actor/director Linda Starkweather as the Narrator.

When the Souls Rise is a dance/theater piece that celebrates the Halloween holiday from the souls' perspective. Each night, the Narrator tells us, "where the moonlight shines through the three wishbone trees," the souls rise to dance their nightly skeletal ball. The Specter of Euphony calls forth these souls from their graves with his mysterious and haunting music. But one night each year, "when the moon is just right," the Specter of Euphony summons the souls with a different effect. This night, the souls rise and dance in their spirit forms, free from the weight of their corporeal selves. Through dance, music, and drama, the stories of the souls are revealed and celebrated in this lively and enchanting tale.

When the Souls Rise has received numerous grants from the New York State Council of the Arts since its inception in 1990. It has been performed in high schools, middle schools, and universities throughout Rochester, including Monroe Community College's Art Now program. The combination of music, dance, and theater creates an unworldly atmosphere that truly charms and delights audiences of all ages.

Images from When The Souls Rise