Main piece:

Well… most theaters have a ghost. Um, it’s kinda… there are a lot of really weird things that happen in theaters just because you have all of these lights and the wings hanging from the flies. But there are just a lot of random props lying around and as much as you try to keep things organized, things are inherently disorganized. A lot of people work at night, sometimes by themselves, and so most theaters have a resident ghost. If you’re working late at night and you see a prop fall off a table when it seemed pretty stable, it’s easier to say “oh, its the ghost!” than to admit they’re incompetent.

Background information (Why does the informant know or like this piece? Where or who did they learn it from? What does it mean to them?):

I was a kid in the theater. I think ghosts give theaters character. Especially if you’re a theater that actors come to on a regular basis- like, actors work there regularly. It becomes a part of the theater’s character.

Context (When or where would this be performed? Under what circumstance?):

I think it really is in a theater that tries to foster a sense of community. It’s not necessarily more professional theaters, like straight laced, down to business theaters that would have its crew sitting around and talking about the history of the theater. It’s more of a theater that acts as a family that would sit around and talk fondly like “Aw, our theater ghost, we all know him!”

Personal Analysis:

Ghosts are oftentimes depicted as demonic figures who wreak substantial havoc upon their discoverers. It’s refreshing to hear a recounting of a friendly, albeit mildly troublesome, ghost. Ghosts are also more prevalent among smaller amateur theaters, where cast members work together closely and have the opportunity to connect with one another. Like most folk beliefs, this belief creates a sense of community around the existence of this entity.