Cornerstone Center for the Arts Presents a Variety of Halloween Shindigs This Year

Photo provided.Photo provided.

By Dee McKinsey—

MUNCIE, Ind. – Not content to rest on its laurels, Cornerstone Center for the Arts, 520 E. Main St., has added a Halloween Variety Show to its October lineup. The show is scheduled from 6-9 p.m., Friday Oct. 29th, in the E.B. Ball Auditorium.

It is a combination costume and musical performance event, following Cornerstone’s first-ever Open Mic Night, Oct. 4.  Approximately 40 people attended, and listened to nine different performers, according to Event Producer Jonathon Bennett. It was the success of this first event that led to the creation of the Halloween weekend evening.

“There is an appetite for this kind of entertainment in Muncie,” said Bennett. There are plans for future open mic nights at Cornerstone, according to Bennett.

For the Oct. 29th Halloween Variety Show, there are 10 performance slots available. For $20, performers can get a slot and 10 tickets for their guests. Attendees also can buy tickets for $6 at the door or $5 in advance.

Tickets also can be purchased at the second floor reception desk at Cornerstone Center for the Arts.

Other Cornerstone October events include:

“EXPERIMENT 53” –   HORROR MOVIE SHOT AT CORNERSTONE – October 23

“Experiment 53” tells the tale of three friends on a road trip who cross paths with a “not so ordinary” hitchhiker and find themselves fighting for their lives. “The DR. IS SIN,” the menacing poster proclaims. The movie will premiere at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 23, at Cornerstone Center for the Arts, 520 E. Main St. Tickets are $7 each or two for $10. Tickets can be purchased at Cornerstone, or at the door the evening of the premiere.

There will be a drawing and a grand prize awarded at the premiere. Additionally, the first 100 attendees will get a gift bag.

“Experiment 53” is written and directed by Muncie native, Thomas Peek, in collaboration with Kyle Putra. They met in art class at Southside High, where they became friends through a mutual love of film. Before “Experiment 53” is shown Peek and Putra will discuss the movie, which was largely filmed at Cornerstone. They have made films previously but nothing of this scale, according to Peek, who is a banker during the day.

 “NOFERATU AND THE MUNCIE SYMPHONY TEAM UP HALLOWEEN WEEK – October 28

Muncie Symphony Orchestra will perform live accompaniment to “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horrors,” featuring renowned composer and conductor Kermit Poling, as part of Cornerstone Center for the Arts’ “Historically Haunted October Series.” “Nosferatu” is a 1922 silent, black-and-white film that closely mirrors Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” with character names changed for copyright reasons.

The MSO showing of “Nosferatu” will take place Halloween week in Cornerstone’s E. B. Ball Auditorium at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 28. Tickets are available online at munciesymphony.org. Tickets are $15 until Oct. 26, and $20 at the door. Tickets may also be purchased at Cornerstone’s second-floor reception desk. Proceeds benefit Cornerstone, the symphony’s home since June 2021.

Earlier, “The Wonderful World of Ouija – Séance and Popup Museum” was held Oct. 9. The first part of the evening featured a guided tour of more than 120 Ouija boards, planchettes and other spirit devices, which Logan King, organizer of the night’s activities thinks may still be haunted. A séance workshop followed.

Those attending any presentations or events at Cornerstone must wear a mask.

Cornerstone Center for the Arts offers opportunities for creative expression for all through community and rental spaces in a historic setting.  Thousands of area residents attend events, wedding and civic events, in addition to taking classes in art, dance and music. Cornerstone is home to the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, The Masterworks Chorale, the East Central Chamber Orchestra, America’s Hometown Band and The Bridge Church.  For additional information go to www.cornerstonearts.org or call 765-281-9503.