The Silver Broomstick and Phoenix Performing Arts Centre are joining supernatural forces and bringing an evening of enchanting burlesque and other Halloween-themed activities to NEPA.

On Oct. 14, Trick or Tease, a Halloween Burlesque Party will showcase the Cosplay Burlesque troupe, which is a touring burlesque group that uses the likeness of characters from movies, television shows, comic strips and even video games to entertain. The show starts at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 at the performing arts center, 409 Main St. Duryea.

Burlesque, in addition to being a popular, and long running, form of entertainment is also an empowering opportunity for many of its participants.

“October is also domestic violence awareness month,” said Bill Brennan co-owner of The Silver Broomstick. “The burlesque show is also a woman empowerment event. We want to help raise awareness about domestic violence, there are some burlesque performers who use burlesque to work through what they have gone through.”

The following weekend, on Oct. 28, Deadly Grounds Coffee Hearse will be at the 127 N. Main St. Shavertown location offering free samples to visitors to the shop.

Barbara Bravo, of Chaos Design Studios, will also be on hand Oct. 28 with her horror dolls.

The Tobyhanna resident said she has been creating dolls for a little more than two years and draws inspiration from horror favorites including “American Horror Story” and “The Walking Dead.”

“I get the inspiration anywhere from movies to images online to favorite characters” and simply from her own imagination, Bravo said. “My favorite doll tends to vary with the newest ones that I’ve painted. I kind of feel like I’m improving as I go and it’s interesting to see the transition from the very first doll to the last one that I’ve done.

It all started with a bargain. Bravo said she purchased a broken doll for very cheap.

“I figured I couldn’t do any more damage. It was already broken so I painted it and I showed it to someone who said that they would purchase it. Then I started doing research and saw that there are lots of people that do this … and I started experimenting on my own.”

Dolls range in size from 12 inches to 2 feet and cost anywhere from $80 to $300.

On Oct. 29, Rochelle Davis, from “The Crow” will be reading Tarot Cards. Appointments for Davis’ readings must be made in advance. Davis will be at The Silver Broomstick from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To make reservations for a reading contact The Silver Broomstick at 570-255-4293 or visit the website thesilverbroomstick.com.

Barbara Bravo, of Chaos Design Studios, designs horror dolls. She starts with a blank face and then paints vampire, zombie or other ghoulish faces onto the dolls.
https://www.theweekender.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_horrordolls.jpgBarbara Bravo, of Chaos Design Studios, designs horror dolls. She starts with a blank face and then paints vampire, zombie or other ghoulish faces onto the dolls. Photos courtesy of Chaos Design Studios

Barbara Bravo, of Chaos Design Studios, is experimenting with sculpting dolls. This sculpted Sally Skellington character is a popular items, Bravo said.
https://www.theweekender.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_SallySkellingtonFORPRINT.jpgBarbara Bravo, of Chaos Design Studios, is experimenting with sculpting dolls. This sculpted Sally Skellington character is a popular items, Bravo said. Photos courtesy of Chaos Design Studios
Coffee, tarot cards and horror dolls are part of month-long festivities

By Sarah Haase

shaase@timesleader.com

IF YOU GO:

What: Trick or Tease: A Halloween Burlesque Party

Were: Phoenix Performing Arts Centre, 409 Main St. Duryea

When: 7 to 11 p.m., Oct. 14

Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door

More info: visit thesilverbroomstick.com