Dr. Magic Returns to The Stagecrafters Theater for Annual Halloween Show October 23 & 24
This Halloween season, The Stagecrafters Theater invites young thrill-seekers and their families to experience Halloween Scary Stories and Dr. Magic’s School of Mystery and Mayhem, an imaginative evening of spooky tales, theatrical surprises, and Halloween entertainment.
Hosted by the mysterious Dr. Magic, the event combines kid-friendly scary stories with live magic, comedy, and audience participation. From eerie encounters to unexpected twists, the program offers just the right amount of fright for young audiences ready to explore the fun side of being scared.
This year, the evening is presented as an open house at Dr. Magic’s School, where prospective students can discover if they have what it takes to join the ranks of the world’s most delightfully frightful creatures. Along the way, guests encounter magical demonstrations, meet the school’s colorful characters, and enjoy Halloween activities. Families can also take part in pre-show activities including a photo booth, as well as a costume parade and contest at intermission, with prizes awarded at the end of the show.
“The Halloween show has been a tradition at The Stagecrafters in Chestnut Hill for over twenty years. It’s a chance to bring families together for an evening of imaginative, interactive theater,” said Matt Rydzewski, who helped organize this year’s show. “We’ve created an evening that combines the timeless fun of spooky storytelling with the magic of live theater. Our goal is to spark kids’ imaginations, give families a memorable Halloween experience, and invite a new generation of audiences into our theater.”
The event reflects The Stagecrafters’ commitment to creating engaging theatrical experiences that connect with the community and welcome audiences of all ages and levels of experience with live theater.
The Halloween show began in 2003 as one of the theater’s 75th season celebration events. The program originated as a selection of dramatic scary story readings and a costume contest. In the ensuing years it has grown to include Dr. Magic with his illusions. Dr. Magic is played by Jeff Ragan, who joined the program in 2008 and has been part of it nearly every year since. Jeff started getting into magic around the age of twelve and has continued to practice and broaden his repertoire.
The Stagecrafters of Chestnut Hill has been producing theater in Northwest Philadelphia since 1929. Located at 8130 Germantown Avenue, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia PA 19118, The Stagecrafters produces five plays each regular season from September to June, in addition to the Halloween show.
The Stagecrafters is dedicated to bringing live theatrical productions and engaging performing arts experiences to audiences in the region. Through its productions and community programming, The Stagecrafters celebrates the power of live performance to entertain, inspire, and bring people together.
EVENT DETAILS
- Event: Halloween Scary Stories and Dr. Magic’s School of Mystery and Mayhem
- Presented by: The Stagecrafters Theater of Chestnut Hill
- Date: Friday, October 23 & Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Time: Show starts at 7:00PM, Doors Open at 6:30PM, Pre-Show Photo Booth at 6:15PM
- Location: 8130 Germantown Avenue, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia PA 19118. (Next to Bredenbecks).
- Recommended ages: 7-12
- Tickets: Admission is free for children aged twelve and under, but they must be accompanied by an adult. Adult admission is $10, which can be paid at the door or in advance online at thestagecrafters.org/halloween/. Reservations are recommended for anyone not purchasing in advance, either by email at halloween@thestagecrafters.org, or by phone at 215.247.8881 ext. 7.
For tickets and additional information, visit thestagecrafters.org/halloween/ or follow The Stagecrafters Theater on social media.
Media Contact: For further information, please contact: Jane Toczek jtoczek@thestagecrafters.org 215.370.1667
