ORLANDO –It may still be September, but that doesn’t mean the emerging scares of the Halloween season — big business across Central Florida’s theme parks in October — are not starting to percolate early.
That definitely includes the members of Phantasmagoria.
The troupe of circus-like performers known as Phantasmagoria is planning its 14th season with the premiere of Phantasmagoria XIV “Tales of the UnDead” for performances in October at Dr. Phillips Center For The Performing Arts.
To entice their legion of horror fans to catch this latest installment, Phantasmagoria is now offering a discount for those who purchase advance tickets.
What is the Phantasmagoria Special Discount?
“Good morning to our wonderful Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts audience members,” Phantasmagoria Orlando noted in unveiling the discount. “The Halloween Season is once again upon us and we could not be more excited to tour with our latest Main Stage offering. Just in time for Labor Day, we would like to offer you a special discount as we return to the Pugh Theatre this October!”
Simply send an email to phantasorlando@gmail.com requesting the code, “and we will send one to use when purchasing.” The code only applies to the performances at Dr. Phillips Center in October, and can’t be combined with other offers.
To book tickets for any of Phantasmagoria’s October shows, visit: www.PhantamagoriaOrlando.com
What is Phantasmagoria’s Tales Of The Undead?
Phantasmagoria Orlando has established a strong base of followers for their annual stage productions that recreate tales of horror, the macabre and the supernatural from classic literature. John DiDonna, the founder of Phantasmagoria who also serves as the show’s playwright, co-director and lead actor, said the latest spooky stories will continue to be combined with dance, original music, and puppetry.
“From terrifying vampires fresh from their graves to Ghastly Revenants and Banshees, along with amusingly bewildered ghosts to the very terrors of being buried alive – Phantasmagoria will weave their tapestry of ‘Whimsically Macabre’ tales,” he noted.
The recreated stories will include works from Edgar Allan Poe and H.G. Wells, Penny Dreadfuls, some eerie folklore and even some original tales in this production.
There will be three Dr. Phillips Center performances on Oct. 26, 27 and 28 in the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater.
DiDonna called it “The perfect way to celebrate the 2023 Halloween season. See you there. . . if you dare!”
Phantasmagoria XIV “Tales of the UnDead will also be scheduled in October for performances at Ocala’s Reilly Arts Center, The Tampa Theatre in Tampa, The Athens Theatre in Deland, and the Melon Patch Theatre in Leesburg.
What is Phantasmagoria?
Two words: Victorian Horror.
For every Halloween season since 2009, the Phantasmagoria troupe has been entertaining local audiences through acrobatics, music, dance, giant puppets, and, most importantly, by recreating classic tales of terror from the vaults of legendary horror writers like Poe, Mary Shelley and many others. Each year, there are new stories — not to mention new adventures for the circus-like performers themselves, and also sometimes new actors as well.
If you’ve lived in Central Florida over the past decade, that word Phantasmagoria needs no introduction. The troupe has been performing around Halloween, at the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival, and more recently, around Christmas with their unique version of A Christmas Carol.
Michael Freeman is an Orlando journalist, playwright, and author of the book A Christmas Eve Story. Contact him at Freelineorlando@gmail.com.
