Written by MaryAnn Lyons
On October 30 and 31, 2026, join us at The Academy Theatre (TAT) for a spooky experience as our theatre is transformed into a haunted pirate ship!
What is the haunt?
The haunted pirate ship is a walk-through haunt designed and built entirely by volunteers. It’s the brainchild of Special Projects Coordinator Charles Lamb and his wife, Juliette Vallender. 2026 marks the third consecutive year that the haunt has taken place.
How did the haunt come about?
Fortunately, it was due to a serendipitous meeting of minds. Charles explains that he had “been tinkering with animating props for Halloween for years.” He “had been going deep down the rabbit hole of prop building through watching various creators and their builds.” Around this time, in early 2024, TAT director Angel Arredondo suggested at a board meeting that it might be fun to turn the theater into a haunted house for Halloween. Angel’s hope was to create a new “community event to attract a different crowd.” Charles says he “couldn’t resist” the challenge and volunteered to work on the concept with Juliette.
Building a strong foundation
Putting together a walk-through haunt in a community theatre is no small feat. Not only does the entire performance area become part of the ship, but other rooms in the building encompass the haunt as well. Construction takes four days. In addition to putting up walls and set pieces, there are also lighting and sound cues to set up. Charles and his team do such a convincing job that some visitors note that they didn’t recognize the theatre after walking through the haunt. From a technology standpoint, Charles has been involved in the field personally since the late ’80s and professionally since the late ’90s. “That gave me a bit of a foundation to start with from the tech side,” says Charles. Many of the props are handmade by Charles, Juliette, and other volunteers. Charles says he has been working on developing those skill sets slowly “over the last ten years or so.”
Pictured: Charles Lamb (facing the camera) and Andy Bateman (back facing the camera) construct the haunt in 2025.
Community
Ultimately, Charles and the other volunteers are proud of the camaraderie that comes with building and acting in the haunt. “I enjoy the challenge of bringing a fantasy world to life, but more than anything, it helps build much needed community,” says Charles. Everyone shares stories and music while putting everything together. Although the four days of construction can feel challenging and physically taxing, the end result feels rather satisfying. “Seeing all aspects of the haunt put together, and knowing that we did it in just a few days time gives us a real sense of accomplishment,” says volunteer MaryAnn Lyons.
Can I bring my children to the haunt? How scary is it?
Use your own discretion, as you know your kids best, but the haunt is designed with all ages in mind. The haunt actors are trained to tailor their role based on who is walking through it. Previous attendee Allisyn Byrne says her older son, who was 5 years old at the time, was afraid simply because of how dark it was, but her younger son was not yet old enough to be scared. Another previous attendee, Ceci Pellegrim, remembers her daughter, who was 6 years old at the time, finding it very realistic and scary, but in a fun way. Ceci looks forward to bringing her daughter back this year.
Pictured: a few of the haunt actors and attendees in 2025 pose together after walking through the haunt
Future?
Could future iterations of the haunt see an expansion of the concept? Possibly! Charles notes that the original idea for the haunt was to include the parking lot as well. The parking lot would have been more zombie-themed, but the concept ultimately did not come to fruition. In the future, it’s entirely possible that the idea could grow. More volunteers make more options possible.
Ticket Information
The ship sets sail on Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31, between 6pm and 10pm both nights. The walk-through takes between 5-10 minutes. Children over 13 and adult tickets are $9 and children under 12 years old are $4. Prices increase if paid at the door. There will also be special themed treats and snacks for sale. Tickets are on sale now at https://www.academytheatre.net/.
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