Theatrical Ghosts

Being involved in the Local theatre scene here in Sarasota, one is bound to have a paranormal experience at some point. Although many think they just saw something or heard something when in fact it's just some shadows of the actors onstage, changing lights or an odd sound coming from the speaker system or the building.

One theatre that I am going to focus on in particular is the Players of Sarasota that is across the street from the Van Wezel Performing arts hall. I have been doing shows at the Players theatre since 2001 and have had several experiences. Mine aren't as "major" as some others have experienced but I personally haven't been able to debunk them in any way. I know the building well enough to know when when the air conditioner is coming on, street noises, where lights go on and off and I know the staff (and several volunteers), so I know who does and doesn't have the code's and key's to the doors.

There is one experience that several people have had, including myself. In the back of the house, there is the stage manager's book (or archival booth depending on who you're talking too)/lighting booth/ stop booth right above the sound booth. Similar to this except the sound board would be on the first floor and there are 3 rooms.

I was doing spots for the show and someone was running the sound board and light board down in the sound booth. The other person who was doing spots with me was in the show, so a good portion of the show he wasn't up in the booth with me and was alone in all 3 rooms. Anybody that had a key or the code to the particular door to the booth was not there, the only one who had the code (in the building) was doing the sound and light board and I knew he wouldn't be coming up till after the show.

As I was in the middle of doing a spot and I heard someone coming up the stairs but I did not hear the door open prior to this, even if someone is careful about closing the door in the lobby, you can still hear it in the booth if all the doors are open. Of course I couldn't see over the spotlight since it's the size of a cannon. I can hear the footsteps go up and down, up and down, all through the song. I know that it's not the other person who did spots with me because I was spotting him onstage. As the song finished, I turned my spot off and then I noticed someone moving around in the next room over. It's dark in the room and the only lights that are in there are the blues, and it's still very dark because blue lights don't give off very much light so of course I wouldn't be able to see any features anyway. As I go in there I don't see anybody, and I don't see anybody in the stairwell. This happened all throughout the run and has happened to several other people who are alone. People will hear footsteps and/or see someone in the next room moving around when they know nobody is there.

I have a few other stories as well but this is one I always tell people.