The Ghost Light Shines On...

RIDGEFIELD, CT - This has been a challenging time for our community. We find ourselves in a situation that would have been unimaginable, and yet it comes as no surprise that Ridgefield is handling it with grace, humor, and resolve.

Like other entertainment venues in town, we'd love to offer a haven where you can come to escape, but current circumstances make that impossible. However, that doesn't mean we can't continue to stay connected through our love of the arts and this community. We have been airing bi-weekly Ghost Light Sessions each Wednesday and Saturday night at 8:45pm on Facebook Live since physical distancing began, and we invite you to join us. These short interludes are unscripted, unrehearsed, and absolutely worth the cost of admission!

Last week, to kick off National Poetry Month, we welcomed Ridgefield's first-ever poet laureate, Barb Jennes. And this week we've invited John Frey, our town's longstanding, beloved state representative to come share the ghost light (at a safe distance). There will be more guests to come - and we'd love your suggestions as to whom you think we should invite next.

Stealing the Ghost Light

Those of you that have been watching know that we've extended the offer to anyone in the community to "steal" the ghost light. We've gotten a few submissions, which we've shared on our website and on social media, but although many have expressed a desire to submit, they've also expressed the technical difficulties of submitting.

There are several ways to submit a Ghost Light video (outlined below) but first, let's review the simple parameters: (1) The video must be in the dark with an exposed, single lightbulb that mimics a traditional ghost light. (2) Submissions should be recorded on your phone or on a single camera device. Nothing fancy! (3) Please try to keep your video to under 5 minutes.In terms of content, we're very open to whatever you'd like to share! Do you have a favorite theater memory, experience or performance (with preferential treatment to RTB stories, of course)? What creativity has this quarantine inspired? Did you have a performance cancelled or postponed and want share a song from that? Do you want to share your recorded Zoom session (aka “Brady Bunch” or “Hollywood Squares” style)? The possibilities are endless. Tell us your story and share the video!

Now, for the way to submit, because these video files are quite large:

1) Try emailing it to us at ghostlight@ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org
or
2) Save it in the cloud: Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and send us the link
or
3) Share it to social media, tag us, and hashtag it #RTBstealingtheghostlight and #RTBghostlightsessions. Our handles on Instagram and Twitter are @theaterbarn, and we can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RidgefieldTheaterBarn. We are monitoring those hashtags, and we shall re-share your post!

So join us each Wednesday and Saturday on Facebook at 8:45pm and send us your videos - we can't wait to see what you'll do!