(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
For years, they’ve rocked out – and this year, they’re spaced out. With an all-new space theme, and other overhauls, the animatronic extravaganza Skeleton Theatre 2012 is almost ready to go, for performances Wednesday (Halloween) night and Thursday (November 1st) night on the lawn at the southwest corner of 36th and Hanford, rain or shine.
WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams visited last night as the crew got ready for the seventh year of Halloween-time shows:
(Michael Wellborn, working on audio setup)
Our behind-the-scenes preview continues, ahead:
Chris Walker is the mastermind behind Skeleton Theatre:
He has a home studio which has long been perfect for producing its audio track – before everything gets taken on the road (aka, out to the lawn):
Chris’s wife Maia Low (below, with daughter Ilah Walker and, at center, Ken Duke) is on the team too. She says they have had more than 60 people work on Skeleton Theatre over the past six years.
Some come from far away (1,100 miles is the record so far). The script for this year was written 10 days after Halloween 2011 – but of course the work to actually put up the set goes on till the last minute – Case Lutes, below, is among those helping with construction:
Speaking of building: The skeletons are no small feat to assemble and operate, either. They too are all-new for this year, each one built by Chris and the crew with 12 servo motors, plus – to operate the arms and skulls – 93 screws and 93 locknuts per skeleton:
Cast members you’ll hear this year include West Seattleites Alan Galli, David Quicksall, and Brandon O’Neill:
But think of those behind the scenes, too:
Maia says that by the last few days before Halloween, there’s somebody working on Skeleton Theatre around the clock:
Bring an umbrella if you have to, but don’t miss the all-new show – the cast is dying to meet you:
The show runs about 20 minutes, continuously between 6 and 9 pm both nights. (It’s free, but you are welcome to donate via their website, to help defray costs!) You can see the video “trailer” for this year’s Skeleton Theatre on its website – and get updates plus more behind-the-scenes peeks on its Facebook page.
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