ADAMS, Mass. — The haunting of Adams Theater begins on Halloween night with "Bones of the Adams Theater" from 4 to 8 p.m.

 

The theater space will play host to Halloween-themed pieces created by a dozen artists. Adams Theater is also working with Lions Club's Halloween Parade to allow parade-goers to see the exhibit without leaving the parade route. 

 

The theater will offer free food to guests, who will be required to wear masks for the event. Yina Moore, founder and executive director of Adams Theater, said artist Joe Wheaton is leading the exhibit.

 

"I heard that he does amazing work with projections," Moore said. "So I said, 'Oh, come and take a look at the space and see if you're interested in doing something here.' And Joe loved the space, and he said, 'Yes, let's do something.'" 

 

Wheaton said he is going to use archived footage of Adams throughout its history for his projection. He and Moore wanted to have something that connected closely with the town in the exhibit. 

 

"The sense was that we could both illuminate the older people on some new technology and then remind some of the young folks about the history of the place because it has an incredible history," Wheaton said. "I think a lot of towns around get a certain amount of publicity, and Adams has a lot to say in its praise." 

 

One artist, Deborah Carter of Smooth Stone Clothing, is making clothing out of recycled objects for her part in the exhibit. 

 

"I started by thinking it'd be kind of fun to make a dress out of Lay's potato chip bags," she said. "And so that was my first piece. And then I made one out of Dorito bags and started getting my hands on recycled materials, and it's a real challenge to turn it into wearable art." 

 

Wheaton said he has enjoyed working with Moore on the exhibit and is impressed by how open she is to the opinions of others. 

 

"I've lived here since 1981, and she may already know more people than I do. Because she follows up and she is, in fact, interested in what people have to say," he said. 

 

Moore said this exhibit highlights what she wants the long empty Adams Theater to become. She purchased the 80-year-old theater earlier this year with hopes to turn it into a multi-use space to help spur economic growth in Adams. 

 

"It's like a true collaborative space, you know? With artists of all kinds, whether you're a musician, dancers, or involved in theater," she said. "I'd like for people to come in and check out the space, and let it take their imagination to where things could be. I think it's the collaborative power that will create more programs that can attract more people. So, hopefully, that's a good start."

 

Wheaton said they didn't want to make the exhibit scary despite the Halloween theme. 

 

"We often can cheer people up at a time when people need a little cheering up," he said. "And we decided not to do a horror house because life is too full of horrors. And what we thought would be to do something a little more quirky and fun and silly." 

 

Moore said she thinks, after dealing with COVID-19 restrictions for so long, people are starting to become more motivated to participate in the community. 

 

"I think people really want to find a reason to come out. "Even in August, when the town put on the Susan B. Anthony festival, with all the streets filled up with vendors and performances," she said.  "Adams Theater was able to host two performances, one dance piece and one one-person act. Everybody was like, 'wow, this is you know what we wanted Park Street to be,' and we can do it."