The Sleepy Hollow Experience Returns to Old Sturbridge Village

After more than 30 sold-out performances last year, Old Sturbridge Village (OSV) once again brings Serenbe Playhouse's The Sleepy Hollow Experience to the living history museum this fall. The immersive, outdoor theatrical performance has become New England's newest Halloween tradition. Tickets for this fall's run are on sale now at www.sleepyhollowosv.org.

Guests of The Sleepy Hollow Experience will be enthralled by this classic, spooky tale set in the 19th century - with all of the thrills, chills and laughs that keep audience members on the edge of their seats. The tale - originally written by Washington Irving and published in 1820 - revolves around the bumbling, awkward schoolteacher, Ichabod Crane, the coquettish Katrina Van Tassel, and Ichabod's brutish rival, Brom Bones.

In this immersive, experiential adaptation, guests will be guided by roving minstrel storytellers through Old Sturbridge Village's countryside, while the Headless Horseman rushes about on horseback and through the museum's historic Vermont covered bridge.

An hour and a half before the start of each show, guests may purchase libations, chowders and soups, snacks and sweets at Ichabod's Tavern at Old Sturbridge Village, as well as additional drinks and sweets during intermission. Show dates and times for The Sleepy Hollow Experience at Old Sturbridge Village are September 27 - October 29, with performances on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm; Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 7:30 and 9:30 pm.

Tickets are $35 for Friday, Saturday, Sunday night performances and $30 for Wednesday and Thursday performances. The Sleepy Hollow Experience is performed outdoors - rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, a modified version of the show will take place in the Stephen M. Brewer Theater at the Village's Visitor Center. No refunds or exchanges.

"It's so exciting for me to see The Sleepy Hollow Experience get a new life in New England and at the region's largest and premier living history museum," says Brian Clowdus, President and Executive/Artistic Director of Brian Clowdus Experience.

"When I first toured Old Sturbridge Village last fall, I couldn't have imagined in a million years a more perfect backdrop for the retelling of Washington Irving's 19th-century tale. As director, Old Sturbridge Village offers me so many unique opportunities to super-size the immersive nature of the show. Audience members are in for one spooky, fun-filled night."

Asked about bringing the production back to OSV, James Donahue, President/CEO of Old Sturbridge Village said, "After last year's smashing success, our constituents confirmed that this outdoor, theatrical adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow offers New Englanders a unique opportunity to experience Old Sturbridge Village in an entirely new and unexpected way. The production allows the museum to introduce a Halloween program that has both historical context and relevance to the region."

Darin Johnson, who serves as the Village's Senior Strategist and discovered the Serenbe Playhouse's production of The Sleepy Hollow Experience, says, "As a former performer and director, I have always believed that Old Sturbridge Village's historic campus is the perfect place to create immersive, theatrical experiences. The Sleepy Hollow Experience is an exciting example of how to use theater to generate interest and enthusiasm about history."

After last year's sold-out performances, Johnson was convinced it was a match for the museum, and invited Clowdus and his production team to return to Sturbridge this year. Austin Tijerina will reprise his role as Ichabod Crane; additional cast members will be named at a later date. Leading the creative team is director Brian Clowdus with original scenic design by Adam Koch and Steven Royal, sound and lighting design by Bobby Johnston, and costume design by Erik Teague. All photos are credited to BreeAnne Clowdus. The media sponsor for the event is Worcester Magazine. For more information about The Sleepy Hollow Experience at Old Sturbridge Village and to purchase tickets, visit www.sleepyhollowosv.org.

Old Sturbridge Village, the largest living history museum in the Northeast, depicts a rural New England town of the 1830s. Each year, more than 250,000 visitors interact with costumed historians, experience up-close demonstrations of early American trades, and meet heritage breed farm animals. Situated on 200 scenic acres, the Village is a collection of more than 40 historic buildings - including homes, meetinghouses, trade shops, working farms and three water-powered mills - restaurants, shops and the Old Sturbridge Inn and Reeder Family Lodges.

Located just off the Massachusetts Turnpike and Routes I-84 and 20 in Sturbridge, Mass., Old Sturbridge Village is open year-round, but days and hours vary seasonally. Daily admission is: $28 for adults, $26 for seniors, $14 for college students with ID, $14 for children ages 4-17, and children 3 and under are admitted free. Each admission includes free parking and a free second-day visit within 10 days. For details, visit www.osv.org.

About Brian Clowdus Experiences Launching with Old Sturbridge Village's inaugural production of The Sleepy Hollow Experience, Brian Clowdus Experiences is an entertainment company dedicated to providing one-of-a-kind theatrical experiences. Brian Clowdus also serves as Founder and Executive/Artistic Director of Serenbe Playhouse in Serenbe, Georgia. After being recognized nationally for his accomplishments as a theatre director and producer, Brian will collaborate with corporations, non-profits and individuals to create innovative, immersive experiences - both outdoors and indoors - that stir the imagination, senses and emotions of audience members. In a market saturated with traditional event companies, Brian Clowdus Experiences differentiates itself by breaking down the walls and redefining the rules of event production - the same way in which Brian redefined the rules of theatre at Serenbe Playhouse.

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