Photo by Pamela Mallory

Chanan Brown, Emma Imes and Hannah Noel during a dress rehearsal of The Tale of Sleepy Hollow.

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Wayne Allen

PDT Staff Writer

The Tale of Sleepy Hollow will be presented at Jax Theatre this weekend with three performances.

The Tale of Sleepy Hollow was written by Jordan Nickles an 18-year-old, pre-heath science major at Shawnee State University.

Nickles said he has been involved with the local theater since he was 10-years-old. He performed in shows with the Portsmouth Little Theater and the Portsmouth Area Arts Council.

“This is a show that’s never been performed before it’s an all original adaption of the classic story by Washington Irving, ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’. It’s a whole new spin, a little more modern take on it in forms of music and dialog. All of the characters from the classic story are there,” Nickles said.

Nickles said this is the first play he has written and is excited to see it come to life.

“It’s going to be good to see this performed. It’s been an amazing experience so far. It’s been more than I could have ever imaged it would develop into,” Nickles said. “I’ve always had stories in my head, it’s really neat to get to put them down with the greatest part, seeing the stories come to life.”

He said the idea for the show came with the theatre was looking for a Halloween show.

“A lot of people wanted me to do Sleepy Hollow. I looked through a few different versions. It was not what I was looking for so I though I would write my own and that’s how the tale of Sleepy Hollow was created,” Nickles said.

He said the musical has a cast of more than 30 people.

Chanan Brown plays Ichabod Crane, Hanna Noel plays Katrina Van Tassel Emma Imes plays the lunatic.

According to released information, “Ichabod Crane is mysteriously lured to the forgotten town of Sleepy Hollow, a town that has been plagued by murders for 18 years. Forced to remain in Sleepy Hollow by the town’s tyrannical clergy, Ichabod finds comfort in the beautiful Katrina Van Tassel. Things go from bad to worse when Ichabod is targeted by the monstrous Headless Horseman. Things are not all what they seem in Sleepy Hollow and it is up to Ichabod to stop the madness or risk loosing his head trying! An all original script featuring music by Nox Arcana, this show will appeal to all fans of classic suspense and horror!”

Shows are Friday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 21 at 3 p.m.

When asked what people can expect from the show Nickles said, “People can expect something new, something familiar. We have amazing special effects, our lighting are exceptional. We’ve got neon dancing skeletons that dance down the isle ways past people among other things that people can be excited about. We’ve been calling this an interactive haunted house.”

The theatre is located in the west end of the Wheersburg Cinema on Ohio River Road.

For more information visit Jax Theatre’s Facebook page.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.