The Noah Webster House and West Hartford Historical Society’s popular West Hartford Hauntings cemetery tour is returning for its 15th season, this October.
The tour, which turns Old North Cemetery into a stage, has been directed by Suzanne Sayers for the last 11 years. It tells the stories of real people who lived and died in West Hartford.
“She was able to increase the quality of the production and the level of the actors’ skill,” said Jennifer DiCola Matos, the executive director of the Noah Webster House and West Hartford Historical Society. “She works tirelessly, from writing the scripts to handling the auditions and selecting people for the right characters and working on rehearsals twice a week. She really does everything.”
Sayers’ background is in theater. She uses that experience to bring an immersive theatrical performance to a graveyard.
“I’m a storyteller also,” Sayers said. “I like the idea of hearing different people’s stories come to life. I love the aspect of the audience moving through it and not being stationary. That’s not something you can do inside often.”
Each year, West Hartford Hauntings ties together a narrative using the stories of real people who have died in West Hartford. Sometimes they are accidents, other times they are murders. Always, though, they are peculiar. This year, the tour is guided by Sister Mary Joseph, who was once a nurse at St. Mary’s Home for the Aged.
Matos said there’s a lot someone can learn through both researching and experience a performance like this. It can paint a picture of an older West Hartford.
“A lot of the stories do go back to West Hartford’s agricultural roots,” Matos said. “It gives you a really great slice of life. What was it like when they lived here?”
Sayers said the historic cemetery makes for a most perfect backdrop for these stories.
“I love being in the cemetery,” Sayers said. “There’s a certain type of person who loves being in the cemetery. I like the cemetery because it’s a small cemetery. There’s something beautiful about it because it’s very old and small.”
The cast is also intergenerational, Sayers said. This year, their youngest performer is 12 years old while their oldest is in their 70s.
There are a few chills and thrills to be had, Matos said, but nothing as intense as a haunted house. The tour is recommended for adults and for children ages 10 and older.
“The spectator is out of their element,” Matos said. “They are being moved through a dark cemetery. We do this in a safe way, but we also do it in a way that can put them on edge.”
“We want the audience to be uncomfortable,” Sayers said. “We want them to not know exactly what’s going to happen next.”
This year’s performance begins on Oct. 18 and continues on Oct. 19, Oct. 25, and Oct. 26. The 45 minute tours will leave every 15 minutes from 6 to 8:45 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children.
The Noah Webster House recommends booking tickets in advance, as tours can sell out. Tickets are available online, at noahwebster.yapsody.com.
