The Woman in Black haunts Belrose Theater this Halloween season

Marin OnStage is getting in the spirit — not only for Halloween and All Hallows’ Eve, but also its initial show at Belrose Theater — the premiere of The Woman in Black.

“There is a lot of excitement building around all the changes,” explains Gary Gonser, president of the non-profit Marin OnStage.

The organization has already garnered much success with many of its productions including Return to the Forbidden Planet (produced with Curtain Theater.)

“Marin OnStage provides quality entertainment to the community by providing the opportunity for new playwrights to present their works and performers to gain experience,” Gonser adds.

With a new home at Belrose, the theater provides a stable location for performing arts buffs to enjoy a wide selection of locally produced quality entertainment in the heart of Marin.

The Woman in Black provides a fun start with the premiere on Friday, Oct. 24 right in time for Halloween. Guests are asked to come in costume, although it is not required.

Belrose is renowned for its costume shop located right in the theater and will give 20 percent off of its rental cost for anyone renting a costume for any of the presentations of The Woman in Black.

The Woman In Black, directed by Paul Abbott of Novato, is a gripping ghost story by Susan Hill and adapted by Stephen Mallatratt that opened in London in 1989 and has never stopped production in 25 years. The story follows a solicitor who goes to a small town to attend the funeral of a client. There he sees a woman dressed in black, standing in the churchyard. As he goes through his client’s papers, he discovers the secret of the woman in black, at his own terrible cost.

This haunting tale is a perfect fun evening for the entire family to enjoy the Halloween season.

The cast includes GreyWolf of West Contra Costa as Kipps; Richard Friedlander of Berkeley as Actor; and Molly McCarthy of Petaluma as the Woman in Black. The rest of the production staff includes; Gary Gonser of Novato, producer and stage manager; Frank Sarubbi of Novato, lighting design; Rick Banghart of Novato, sound design; Jeanine Gray of Santa Rosa, costumes; and Ian Lamers of Petaluma, lighting.

Plays will be presented at Belrose Theater at 1415 Fifth Ave. in San Rafael, Thursdays through Saturdays, closing on Nov. 8. A special discounted preview show will be held Thursday, Oct. 23 for $15.

Ticket prices range from $10 to $22.Start time is 8 p.m. for all dates, with Saturday matinees, beginning at 2 p.m.Groups of six or more get a 15% discount.

Tickets are available at www.marinonstage.org. To make phone reservations, call 415-448-6152. Follow Marin OnStage on Facebook and Twitter.