Halloween dance show is treat for students, community members

President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” But is it? In the Halloween dance show, “Miranda’s Nightmare,” the things that plague our mind with fear are very real. 

 

In the first act alone, the audience sees skeletons, willies, zombies and spiders. Later in the show, the horrors multiply, encompassing many different forms of human fear. Among these are ghosts, clowns, vampires, spectres, chupacabra (werewolf-like creatures) and even Death. 

 

The story of Miranda’s Nightmare is centered on Dia de los Muertas, the Mexican holiday known as Day of the Dead. 

 

Miranda, played by Johanna Combs, is plagued with nightmares after she learns of the death of her parents. She expects these dreams to disappear upon awakening, but they remain. Believing the nightmares are real, Miranda ends up in an insane asylum.

 

The show begins with Miranda’s piercing scream as she wakes from a terrifying dream. A pair of chattering teeth appears and as she picks it up so do the creatures from her nightmares. Miranda finds out the teeth belong to Death, played by Ashley Clark, who informs Miranda that she is her new student. Death’s job, besides bringing souls to the other side, is to help people live first by facing their fears.  However, Death is not allowed to tell Miranda what she needs to learn, so Miranda has to find it out for herself. 

 

The second act focuses on her brother Miguel, played by Jimmy Gatliff, who has begun to have nightmares, as well.

 

“Miranda’s Nightmare,” was written, produced and choreographed by UNC dance professor Monte Black. It will be performed for its seventh year in a row this Halloween.

 

The performances will be at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., Oct. 30 and 31 at Greeley Central High School.

 

Tickets are $8 for students and seniors and $12 for adults and can be bought at the door with cash only.

 

The performers said they hope to have another successful turnout this year.