South Portland, ME – This investigation was an absolute fun one. Due to us having very little experience with theater culture, we brought in local comedian and actor, Rachel Flehinger, to assist. The fun part? She’s deathly afraid of the dark and unsure about the paranormal. So, the knowledge share began! Goal: Learn about theater traditions and beliefs, like the ‘ghost light’, and in turn teach her about things that go bump in the night.

Originally a Nazarene church, this structure was constructed in the early 1900s. It wasn’t converted into a theater until the early 70’s, and has been operational as such ever since. In the 70s a group conducted seances in the lobby of this theater, but no further investigation has been done this place with so many personal, and emotional, attachments to it.

With so much energy and heart pumping in to the theater for so long, the emotional attachments of those who labored here seem to have transcended death. Claims from patrons and players include the belief that past members are still within the theater, including the shop keeper who helped construct sets, named ‘Bud’, who is often seen by current volunteers. Additionally, all the props and costumes are still housed within the attic of the theater, which could add to the haunting in a way Rachel explained as ‘endowment’. The acting technique called ‘endowment’ is when an actor places emotion upon an object, so it may remind them how to feel or what to say when they are performing. With an attic full of these ‘endowed’ props, it was very telling as to why the theater presented elements of both a residual and intelligent haunt.

The haunt began with an incredible call and response session with Rachel in the lobby. As Ty and Carol were educating their guest about how to conduct the technique, they soon began get reactions. From that, the session continued as a presumed female spirit in the room found familiarity with the actor and continued to ‘converse’ with Rachel for several minutes as they both learned about each other, laughed, and joked. Ashley and Katie’s group also noted seeing an apparition in the basement, together at the same time, which is rare. Other evidence was questionable footsteps and knocks, possible temperature manipulation.

This was such a unique haunt for us, and not just because we had a guest. The structure, walking through sets, joking with an entity, and trying on costumes as trigger objects definitely made it a hilarious haunt to be had in the dark, but it was not without its spooky moments. Overall, it was an enjoyable night of knowledge sharing and peeking behind the curtain, and the veil.