Photo Flash: First Look at SLEEPY HOLLOW at the Players Theatre

As long autumn shadows cast their spell across Greenwich Village, the days grow shorter and the nights grow restless and long, enticing the Headless Horseman to realize his lonely, faithful quest. Sleepy Hollow, an original musical by Michael Sgouros and Brenda Bell, which begins previews on September 20th at The Players Theatre in New York City's Greenwich Village, reveals a haunting deeper than the woods of the hollow. Its shadows are cast from the darkness of the human soul. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in action!

At the center of the story is the elusive Headless Horseman, a soldier fabled to have lost his head in battle in the real-life Tarrytown, New York. In 1820, Washington Irving, a curator of folklore himself, took the fabric of this tale and spun it into the bewitching classic "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". "Sleepy Hollow" the musical follows the trials of the ill-fated Ichabod Crane and the events that led him to his fatal chase with the Headless Horseman.

Washington Irving's original story did hold its challenges for playwright Brenda Bell. "Irving is a beautiful, fanciful writer. He often goes on at length with detailed descriptions of everything from the sound of rustling leave to the delights of a lavish dessert tray. This is a wonderful treat for readers but sometimes difficult to adapt for the stage" noted Bell. I wanted to stay true to all the story elements while digging deeper into the characters themselves. I wanted to know why Ichabod Crane was so cold - so hollow".

"Everyone gets lost in the Hollow sooner or later; can't help it, it's our nature" warns Hans Van Ripper during his first meeting with the naive Ichabod Crane. The nature that Van Ripper speaks of is human nature. The hollow asks those who venture into its shadow "What do you fear most?" The Hollow compels us to face our deepest fears. Ichabod, a man nursing his wounds from emotional battles with cheating lovers and bullish rivals, fears that he will never be loved. So much so that he rejects any chance for true love, preferring his relationships to resemble business deals (he is attracted to Katrina Van Tassels family-given comforts) which he explores in his tragic ballad "The Not in Love Song".

Bell used historical resources to assist in developing the characters of the Tarrytown folk. "I learned that Dutch women of that period were very independent and strong" said Bell. This research led to a different take on Lady Van Tassel (Katrina's mother) and the development of the song "Never Sit Out the Dance" that reveal her longing and regret which she so carefully conceals. The musical "Sleepy Hollow" explores the local folk of this enchanted Hollow; exposing their fears as well as their flaws, offering a slice of this early American Dutch community as tasty as Lady Van Tassel's wicked apple pie.

The musical features a live ensemble comprised of cello and percussion. Sgouros, a Julliard-trained percussionist, choose this specific orchestration for its diverse nature. "Two percussionist play over 30 instruments during the show" remarked Mr. Sgouros adding that the cello's wide range allows for a great deal of variation from one musician. Percussion also lends itself to the creation of non-melodic sounds, including eerie sound effects in the Hollow created by using a violin bow on the side of the vibraphone.

Just in time for HOLLOWeen "Sleepy Hollow" officially opens on October 4th and runs through November 9th at the Players Theatre located at 115 MacDougal Street (between Bleecker and West 3rd). Tickets are $30-$60 and can be purchased by calling 1-866-811-4111 or at the box office which opens daily at 11a. Performances are on Saturdays at 5p and Sundays at 2p with select midweek matinees. Visit www.hollowthemusical.com. Follow us @HOLLOWNYC or on Facebook at HollowTheMusical.

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