Scary fun in the theater: Sleepy Hollow” celebrates its premiere in Trostberg!

Scary fun in the theater: Sleepy Hollow” celebrates its premiere in Trostberg!

Tonight, July 18, 2025, the Hertzhaimer-Gymnasium Trostberg will bring the horror comedy “Sleepy Hollow” by Matthias Hahn to the stage. The premiere begins at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Trostberg State Secondary School. From 7 p.m. onwards, visitors can prepare for an unforgettable evening, while a catering service from “Hertzhaimer” provides the necessary food during the breaks.

A scary act

In this production, the director is warned by Ichabod Crane that zombies are traveling through space and time to make life difficult for him and others. What initially begins as an incredulous joke quickly becomes reality when the first zombies storm the stage. Ichabod and the theater team discover that the Necronomicon, a powerful spell book, is the key to everything that has happened. This exciting hunt for the Necronomicon takes the actors through numerous adventures and has the potential to captivate viewers.

The intense scenes are not without their challenges: trigger warnings indicate that depictions of characters wearing zombie masks could frighten younger viewers. There are also strobe effects at the end, which in rare cases can trigger epilepsy, so attention should be paid to the safety of viewers.

A look beyond the borders

But Trostberg isn't the only one concerned with the story surrounding Ichabod Crane and his encounter with the supernatural. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” was staged at the Nuremberg State Theater under the direction of Christian Brey in November 2024. This version, rewritten by resident author Philipp Löhle, combines elements from Washington Irving's classic story with modern ones. The action remains in Sleepy Hollow, where superstition reigns and the legend of the Headless Horseman is told. Here the audience finds itself between scary and cheerful moments, a balancing act between horror and nonsense slapstick.

The production at the State Theater also refers to contemporary topics, for example through modern dialogues that raise questions about the US election. This combination of historical narrative material and current issues is reflected in the characteristic approach to the legend. The main story remains the same: desperate schoolmaster Ichabod Crane has his eyes on the beautiful Katrina van Tassel, while his rival Brom Bones does everything he can to win the lady's affection.

Tradition and innovation in focus

“Sleepy Hollow” is more than just a thrilling story about a schoolmaster battling the supernatural. The narrative also deals with larger themes such as the conflict between superstition and rationality. In Washington Irving's story, first published in 1820, Ichabod Crane is described as a shy, super-stitionist teacher who lives in an environment steeped in ancient legends. His explorations of the supernatural figure of the Headless Horseman and the dark legends of Sleepy Hollow are deeply rooted in American folklore.

With a mixture of horror and humor, the story remains a timeless classic that is constantly being reinterpreted. The resources of this modern adaptation, combined with the classic storytelling of the Trostberg theater group, could leave viewers in awe.

For all theater lovers and fans of the supernatural, the performances at the Hertzhaimer-Gymnasium and the Nuremberg State Theater are recommended. Every evening promises exciting entertainment with a touch of horror and plenty of space for your own imagination.

For further information about the current productions, it is worth taking a look at the pages of the respective theater groups: PNP, The German stage and English Studies.