A&C: Local performing arts theatre hosts third annual Fright Night

The performing arts theatre brings together the talent of local artists and the true stories from Hamilton’s history for a spectacular and spooky show

Joleen Awad A&C Staff Writer

Founded during the early days of the pandemic, Emerson Arts is a performing art theatre that strives to showcase engaging and thought-provoking entertainment from local artists while also keeping everyone safe. Mason Micevski and Emily Bolyea are the co-founders and co-artistic directors of the theatre.

Micevski grew up in Hamilton and graduated from the Randolph College for the Performing Arts. He has worked as a musical theatre performer and singer all over the province. Now, his focus is on improving Emerson Arts and ensuring artists continue to be recognized and employed.

Bolyea grew up in Coldwater, in a rural part of central eastern Ontario. She went to the University of Windsor for drama and communications before living in South Korea and Ghana for a period of time, after which she moved back to Canada. Bolyea previously worked as a project manager for a local company in Brantford before co-founding Emerson Arts.

From Oct. 21 to 30, Emerson Arts will be holding thier third annual Fright Night event. Fright Night is an outdoor site-specific show comprised of a combination of plays and monologues. All the plays are based on Micevski and Bolyea’s work, though other scriptwriters were also involved in the production of the event.

There are no jump scares or haunted house-like scares at Fright Night; instead, the performers rely on the creepiness of the real-life events. There also is no one consecutive story, but many stories coming together to create the frightening atmosphere of the show.

There are no jump scares or haunted house-like scares at Fright Night; instead, the performers rely on the creepiness of the real life events. There is also no one consecutive story, but many stories coming together to create the frightening atmosphere of the show.

PHOTO C/O @emersonarts25

actor, takes the audience along on their walk and they come to a play that’s happening or a monologue, we don’t stop . . . So it’s like the audience is kind of always looking to see where’s the next one is going to be,” Bolyea stated.

The location for the show is not revealed until 24 hours before, adding an air of suspense and mystery to the whole event. The event also has a capacity limit of 25 to 30 attendees at each show. The capacity limit is small to accommodate for the fact the event is being held outdoors without amplification.

The reception of Fright Night has been very positive so far.

“We have had a really great response from people who’ve seen the show. They get really freaked out [and] they think it’s really cool. A lot of people haven’t seen anything like it before,” Bolyea said.

She hopes audience members use Fright Night to understand the contribution of artists and theatre to the city, especially the original works playwrights have put so much effort into.

If you’re looking for a fun night out with friends to celebrate Halloween, to learn more about the historical sites of Hamilton or just to see the performances and amazing work of local artists, then Fright Night is the perfect event for you. Fright Night tickets can be purchased on their website.

“We have had a really great response from people who’ve seen the show. They get really freaked out [and] they think it’s really cool. A lot of people haven’t seen anything like it before.”

Emily Bolyea

Co-founder and co-artistic director of Emerson Arts

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Sports

McMaster football 39-1 win vs. York reversed following forfeit

After discovering and self-reporting an ineligible player on the roster, the Marauders were forced to forfeit each game they’ve played to that point

Jovan Popovic Sports Editor

Aseason that seemed to start on a pretty strong note for the Marauders turned sour rather quickly. The team dropped their first game against the Carlton Ravens to a close score of 24 to 18, but followed that up with an absolute blowout against the York Lions, winning 39 to one. Despite the lopsided score, the game will officially go down as a loss.

On Sep. 9 news broke that McMaster University would have to forfeit their win against the Lions due to an administrative error. This error made a member of the team who participated in both of their first two games ineligible, reversing the outcome of their lone season win. The final line score on the Marauders website now reads as a win for the Lions with a final score of one to zero.

The initial statement on the issue came from McMaster Athletics and Recreation itself, explaining the issue at hand. They cited an administrative error which stemmed from a student transfer. Upon discovery, they passed along this observation to U Sports and the OUA, who made the ruling to forfeit shortly thereafter.

Following the third game of the season — a 20 to 14 loss to the Ottawa Gee-Gees — the team fielded questions on the matter at their postgame press conference.

“As the head coach and manager of the football team, it’s 100 per cent on me. I’ve got a player on the roster that shouldn’t be. . . One of my guys is not eligible, and that’s got to be on me to make sure,” said Stefan Ptaszek, the team’s head coach.

Not only was the team directly affected by the matter in terms of the overturned game, but the issue also appeared to create further problems heading into their week three matchup. Although Ptaszek stressed that the team was well prepared and in a strong mental state, the devastating news and the extreme recency were more than likely a factor.

“We only had 20 hours to digest what happened prior to this kickoff. . . Captains [found out] at 2:00 p.m. yesterday, the team at 3:00 p.m. [They] were a little shell shocked and stoic for sure,” explained Ptaszek.

Following the third game of the season, the team fell to zero wins and three losses

PHOTO C/O McMaster Sports

“As the head coach and manager of the football team, it’s 100 per cent on me. I’ve got a player on the roster that shouldn’t be. . . One of my guys is not eligible, and that’s got to be on me to make sure.”

moderately well, having won two of their last four games (both in blowout fashion). Unfortunately, it might simply be a case of too little too late. It was going to take a herculean effort from the team in order to return to the postseason for the first time since their provincial title victory in 20192020.

Although it’s technically possible for them to still secure a playoff spot, the stars would have to perfectly align, and their chances are diminishing by the game as a direct result of this costly mistake.

Stefan Ptaszek

Head Coach

on the year. They sat dead last in the Ontario University Athletics standings as the only team without a win. At that point McMaster had also lost their spot on the U Sports top 10 national ranking, having been displaced by the Mount Allison Mounties. Since the disastrous three game start to the season, the team has rebounded 18 | SPORTS www.thesil.ca | Thursday, October 27, 2022