Submitted photo / Amy Radinovic Boardman High School sophomores Carina Garland and Kara McCutcheon work Monday on the graveyard scene for the Haunted Boardman Performing Arts Center, which is open to the public today and Thursday. They will be among the actors in the Haunted BPAC and are drama club members.

BOARDMAN — The cast and crew of the Haunted Boardman Performing Arts Center put the final touches on their family-friendly Halloween event Monday.

Hosted by the Boardman Drama Guild and the Boardman Performing Arts Center, visitors can plan on Halloween thrills and chills during a walk-through of the Haunted BPAC and stay for face painting, arts and crafts, and the viewing of some Halloween classics. The Haunted BPAC haunted house will be open 7 to 9:30 p.m. today and Thursday.

The attraction is recommended for ages 10 and up. There is a recommended admission of $5 with proceeds benefiting the Boardman Drama Guild and Stage Crew Club.

Approximately 65 students, who are members of the stage crew and actors in this year’s fall musical, “Anastasia,” have collaborated to create an imaginative haunted experience in the area. They will transform the Boardman Performing Arts Center stage, dressing rooms and backstage areas into a fully immersive walk-through haunted house attraction. The Haunted BPAC promises even more spooky scenery, eerie effects and new themed sets than last year.

Patrick Kale, supervisor of performing arts at the BPAC, said the Boardman Drama Guild and Stage Crew Club, who are pulling the event together, are after-school, extracurricular activities that give students opportunities to perform and produce high quality productions and experiences in performing arts and live entertainment.

“This fundraiser was created by myself and our Stage Crew Club last year as a way to offset costs for our fall musical and field trips. The students wanted to try something different from your typical fundraiser and we really took the ball and ran with it,” Kale said.

Kale said last year, the Haunted BPAC welcomed approximately 600 guests over two days and raised about $3,500.

“The students and staff work for around a month to prepare decorations and then we put the whole thing together in about a week’s time. This includes painting, building sets, and covering almost everything in cobwebs,” Kale said.

Visitors to the haunted house will see classic monsters like zombies, vampires, werewolves and characters from off the screen.

“This year, we are aiming to almost double the amount of scenes and actors in our haunted house. Guests will come on stage and enter through our curtain to be transported into a world of jump scares, disorder and fun,” Kale said.

For those not interested in the haunted house, there will be time to view clips from classic monster movies and cartoons in the auditorium, crafts and face painting, and fall concessions.

Some students who took part in the creation of the haunted house described their involvement.

Senior Harper Miller said his usual involvement with the stage crew is to run the lights, but for the haunted house, he is a jack of all trades.

“I help to build the sets, plan the rooms, paint the rooms, and everything in between. When the actual house is built, I’m not much of a performer, so I usually usher people in,” he said.

Miller noted how much the Haunted BPAC has expanded since the first year.

“It will be bigger and better. Honestly last year was a gamble because we didn’t know how much traction it would gain. Luckily it was successful. It’s one of my favorite things that the drama club does, and I’m excited to be a part of it,” Miller said.

“I hope it’s as popular as last year, and the community shows up to support us. It’s a really cool and unique thing, and I admire Mr. Kale for putting so much faith in us to get it done.”

“My role in the drama guild is advanced ensemble and dance captain,” said senior Jariha Bates.

Bates said being involved with the haunted house was fun and gratifying.

“It was great to watch all of the reactions from the visitors. I think some people underestimate it because they’re just thinking, ‘Hh it’s just a bunch of theater kids’ but once they leave, they are shaken,” Bates said.