By Randi Bjornstad
“Ghost” was a movie first, made in 1990 and starring Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze and Whoopi Goldberg. It’s the story of a pair of young lovers, Molly and Sam, played by Moore and Swayze, who are separated by death after Sam, who’s a banker, discovers accounts being used as a money-laundering scheme for a drug ring and is murdered when he gets too close to the truth.
From “the other side,” Sam sees that Molly is in danger herself when members of the ring decide to invade the apartment and find the evidence that Sam had on them, and his ghost hangs around their apartment as he tries to find ways to warn her.
His tactics involve enlisting the help of a questionable psychic, played by Goldberg, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.
The stage version, “Ghost the Musical,” had its debut in Manchester, England, in March 2011 and a Broadway version opened just over a year later and ran for 136 performances.
Now, Actors Cabaret of Eugene is presenting the show for the first time in the Pacific Northwest, lauding it as “a fabulous romantic fantasy thriller that’s just perfect for the dark days of winter.”
The book is by Bruce Joel Rubin, who also wrote the screenplay for the movie and won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for its efforts. Dave Stewart wrote the music, and Rubin and Stewart collaborated on the lyrics.
The cast for the Actors Cabaret production consists of 13 players with Cameron Graham and Ashlee Winkler taking the roles of Sam and Molly. The bad guys, Carl and Willie, are played by Joshua Sayre and Tyler Blaser, and Chelyce Chambers portrays the psychic, Oda Mae. The rest of the cast includes Delaine Burns, Tom Grimsley, Laura Haggenjos, Janis Hayes, Holly Holub, Ashley Mason, Lisa Mattiello, and Leanna Stevens.
Joe Zingo directs, as well as handling costumes, sets and lighting.
“Ghost the Musical” runs from Jan. 19 to Feb. 17, with the usual play-only, dinner-and-play and brunch-and-play options.
Ghost the Musical
When: 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 19-20, 26-27 and Feb. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17; and matinees at 2 p.m. on Jan. 28 and Feb. 4
Where: 996 Willamette St. in downtown Eugene
Tickets: Show only $16 to $27, dinner and show $42.95 to $48.95 (discounts on opening weekend), brunch and show $38.95 to 40.95; available at the box office, 541-683-4368, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, or online at actorscabaret.org/
Ashlee Winkler and Cameron Graham play the leads — Molly and Sam — in Actors Cabaret of Eugene’s production of “Ghost the Musical” (photo courtesy of Actors Cabaret)
