Lynn Washington (3:35)

As a parent, you can't always be in the car, but you can stay.

Kelsey Brennan (3:38)

Connected to their safety with Greenlight Infinity's driving reports. Monitor their driving habits, see if they're using their phone, speeding and more. These reports provide real data for meaningful conversations about safety. Plus, with weekly updates, you can track their progress over time. Help keep your teen safe. Sign up for Greenlight Infinity@Greenlight.com podcast.

Lynn Washington (4:12)

Nineteen years old, young, just starting a life built of my own decisions, and I knew two things simultaneously. I knew I loved her. Desperately, deeply. And I knew I was moving away to the other side of the world. To Japan. The chance of lifetime. I had to take it. I had to. And mostly in the days leading up to getting on that plane, she and I, we didn't talk about it. Even as she helped me pack up my brand new suitcase, looked for Japanese English dictionaries. We avoided mentioning what we were packing for the herd of elephants in the room. But I wanted her to know. I wanted to give her something to make her understand that even though I had to do this, that she was special to me. I snuck off to a jeweler. He helped me pick out the most beautiful bracelet I could afford, and he framed it in a beautiful box. I knew she would love it and she would appreciate that this is just a bump, that this year would go quickly, that we have our entire lives ahead of us. So excited to give it to her, it could say everything that we had not. And that night, walking next to her along the footpath, I pulled out the jewelry box and handed it to her. The look of joy, elation. Then she opened that box to see a bracelet. And I know instantly that she did not expect to see a bracelet. The disappointment, the almost sorrow, the almost anger, the chasm. Then the acceptance. Almost as she placed the bracelet on her wrist, thanked me, and we continued walking down the path to lives completely different than they had been just a few moments before. I had added injury. I had twisted the knife. And some things, some things you can never take back. Spook starts now. Sam. Now, have you ever gone to see Shakespeare in the Park? Now, I'm not talking about much do about nothing in the middle of the day. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. This is spooked. I'm talking about Hamlet. In the middle of the woods at midnight, you feel like you're in the play, that those ghosts, those dark forces summoned in the actors lines, they're coming alive right there in front of your eyes. And today we're traveling to the American Players Theater, an outdoor amphitheater in rural Wisconsin. It stages some of America's best Shakespeare productions. And the theater is in the middle of the woods. And at night, at night it gets pretty dark. We're about to meet Kelsey and Andy, two apprentices at the theater who have just been cast in the roles of their young lives. Romeo and Juliet. I'll let them take it from here, Sam.

Kelsey Brennan (9:13)

So we start rehearsing the play, and the balcony scene has started to give us problems.

Andy Trishinski (9:20)

The balcony scene, it's the time they really get to meet and get to know each other.

Kelsey Brennan (9:25)

Romeo and his friends crash this party of Capulet. And from across the room, Romeo spots Juliet. And instantly they fall in love. Romeo sticks around the property of the Capulets, hoping to get another glimpse of. Of Juliet or maybe work up the courage to say something to her. And as he's waiting, looking around in this really, really, you know, dangerous area for him to be. He would be murdered if he was found, she appears on her balcony. It's night. These two people can't see each other's face, and there's no one else around except this constant threat that at any moment they could be found out.

Andy Trishinski (10:15)

But in the rehearsals, it's bright. We're rehearsing at noon, you know, sometimes under the sun where it's boiling because it's the middle of the summer. All those factors were playing into it. So we're getting notes from our director, Matt, about how the balcony scene is just not working.

Kelsey Brennan (10:34)

The stakes are not high enough, you know, feel the danger. The risks are higher. Death is around the corner.

Andy Trishinski (10:45)

So we're getting down to the wire and we decide one night that we're gonna go up the hill in the dark and rehearse on the stage that's in the middle of the woods.

Kelsey Brennan (10:55)

Do I wanna walk up the hill in the pitch darkness and rehearse? Probably not. That's not something that is on brand for me, but. But I want to be the best Juliet I can possibly be. So I'm going to do anything.

Andy Trishinski (11:17)

There's a walking ramp that's gravel stone that winds up and through the woods. There's no light because it's an off night from the theater.

Kelsey Brennan (11:29)

It's trees everywhere to the point where you can't really see too far. I mean, you're looking straight into the wilderness.

Andy Trishinski (11:37)

We start getting deeper into the woods and deeper up the hill and I'm like, I can't see anything. Oh my God, what did we decide to do here?

Kelsey Brennan (11:47)

I'm definitely starting to feel how alone we are up on this hill.

Andy Trishinski (11:55)

And as you come through a lot of fir trees and that kind of thing, it opens up again and you start to see the walls of the theater at the very top. And it's this massive amphitheater that's cut into this natural bowl at the top of this large hill.

Kelsey Brennan (12:19)

So we walk into the lobby area, completely deserted. And we walk down basically the center aisle that leads from the lobby area onto the stage. We get up there and there's not much to do but just jump in. So I go backstage up this staircase that leads to a window. So I'm probably Now like maybe 15, 20ft off the stage. And Andy is below. I can see just the outline of his face and nothing more. And that's exactly what Juliet experiences.

Andy Trishinski (13:11)

It's just a strange sensation to be like, okay, now we're rehearsing and we can barely see each other.

Kelsey Brennan (13:19)

We're completely alone. It's a little creepy. And if we get caught by somebody up there, we're not really. We're not really sure we're supposed to be up here. So it's perfect.

Andy Trishinski (13:31)

Maybe this is what we've needed all.

Lynn Washington (13:46)

Okay, so we're all trying to get healthier, but can feel like shadowboxing. General basic diet plans, general health advice, general supplement stacks. And we know we are not general. No one size fits all. But what if you could measure how your body is aging and know exactly what to focus on next? That's what trudiagnostic does. They test your biological age and key health markers like vitamins, nutrients and inflammation. Then gives you a clear 90 day plan based on what your body needs without the guesswork. And it's easy. All I did was order online the kit ships right to your door. Pricked my finger like they said. Sent back the prepaid return package. It takes just two to four weeks to get digital results my only job. Now follow the three most important actions. Results say I should for 90 days, then retest to see progress. Easy. That's why Trudiagnostic is trusted by top longevity clinics and health professionals, not just consumers at home. And right now Spooked listeners can get 20% off at truediagnostic.com using code spooked at checkout. That's truediagnostic.com and use code spooked for 20% off today. Choose TrueAge TruHealth or the Combo Kit as a one time purchase or subscription. Did you know there's an online cannabis company that ships federally legal THC right to your door and they found a way to combine THC with carefully selected functional ingredients to create gummies, baked goods and flour, delivering the experience you're looking for. I'm talking about mood.com and they have an incredible line of cannabis gummies and you can get 20% off your first order@mood.com with promo code Spooked. Forget the one size fits all because Mood Functional Gummies are optimized to kick in as little as 15 minutes and dial in what you are looking for, like their Sleepy Time Advanced Gummies for a mind soothing calm at night. The Mind Magic Gummies for focused deep work for enhanced creativity. You can find basic gummies anywhere. But you're not basic. Mood's Functional Gummies combine premium federally legal THC with targeted botanicals to help you get into the perfect mood, usually in as little as 15 minutes, and everything shipped discreetly right to your door. No dispensary lines, no awkward conversations, just better days and nights delivered to your doorstep. Best of all, not only is every Mood product backed by a 100 day satisfaction guarantee, but as I mentioned, listeners get 20% off their first order with code spooked. So head to mood.com, find the functional gummy that matches exactly what you're looking for and let Mood help you discover your perfect mood. And don't forget to use the promo code Spooked when you check out. To save 20% on your first order, try today@mood.com.

Kelsey Brennan (17:09)

We start the scene but soft.

Andy Trishinski (17:13)

What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon who is already sick and pale with grief. So exhilarating, her maid art far more fair than she.

Kelsey Brennan (17:33)

Oh Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet and we do it again because we're actors and we want to rehearse, right? And during the second rehearsal of the balcony scene, I start to feel like were being watched.

Andy Trishinski (18:12)

I'm noticing Kelsey's got this halting nature now to her voice that she doesn't usually have.

Kelsey Brennan (18:19)

Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face Else would a maiden Else would a maiden blush paint my cheek for that which thou hast heard me speak tonight Feign would I dwell on.

Andy Trishinski (18:34)

And that also she's just a little bit. Things are coming out a little slower. I started feeling this weird thing, like, where your arm hairs start raising up. Like that prickly sensation on my skin on my arms. I was like, am I getting cold?

Kelsey Brennan (18:53)

There's kind of a center aisle that leads from the stage all the way up through the audience and into the lobby. I look up, and at the very top of that path, I saw that someone was there. It's pitch black, so it's just kind of an outline of something that looks like a human being.

Andy Trishinski (19:20)

I'm required to turn around When I profess my love to Juliet with love's light wings did I o' erperch these walls for stony limits cannot hold love out and what love can do that. I open up to this aisle to see what I think is someone out there. Initially, the first thing I sense, of course, is, oh, whoa, someone is there. But then it just has, like, this sense of, okay, it's someone here to watch that we probably know.

Kelsey Brennan (19:55)

And they walk down into the fifth row, and they sit down about two seats. In the seats are a beige leather and a gray leather. They are visible even, you know, even in the darkness. So when that person is sitting in that seat, the. There is a blackness of an outline that covers the back of the seat. I immediately thought it was Matt, my director. He was the only person who knew that we were out there, and he had every reason to come and watch us. We concluded the balcony scene. Good night. Good night. Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say good night till it be morrow.

Andy Trishinski (20:46)

Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, Peace in thy breast.

Kelsey Brennan (20:54)

Instinctively, I'm waiting for notes because that's the normal exchange. You end a scene and your director says, great, okay, here's what I think. And there was just silence. I'm like, well, that's weird. Okay, maybe Matt just wants to give us space and doesn't want to insert any notes. Doesn't want to, you know, ruin this moment. So I come down off the balcony. I walk down still Silent. And I join Andy on the stage. And that's when Andy says, kelsey, what about.

Andy Trishinski (21:37)

Do you want to do the pilgrim scene? Maybe I thought I was just having this weird experience alone, but I also want to keep doing this. It's been fun, too. And it's like, also, I'm intrigued by what is actually happening. Will this person reveal themselves?

Kelsey Brennan (21:56)

Andy's one of my best friends. He's my roommate. If Andy doesn't feel like we're in danger, I'm probably fine. So I say, sure, let's do the pilgrim scene. The pilgrim scene. It is the moment where Romeo comes up to Juliet at the Capulets party and he takes her hand. For saints have hands that pilgrim's hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmer's kiss.

Andy Trishinski (22:25)

That's the dance right where they first get to meet. And it's the first little spark that ignites this big love that everyone knows is Romeo and Juliet have not saints lips and holy palmers too.

Kelsey Brennan (22:40)

Ay, pilgrim lips that they must use in prayer.

Andy Trishinski (22:43)

Oh, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do.

Kelsey Brennan (22:49)

And this scene is played probably as close to the audience as you can get. But the person does not get clearer the closer I get, the person remains a black, fuzzy blob. I don't start to see a face. I don't start to see the color of a shirt. But I do notice that the seat is down. It's not my eyes tricking me. There is a person sitting in that seat.

Andy Trishinski (23:30)

So we finish the scene.

Kelsey Brennan (23:32)

There's this moment of silence. No one says anything. We're giving them the opportunity to. To say hello. They're very close to us. They're not that far away. It's awkward that they don't say anything. It feels a little dangerous.

Andy Trishinski (23:55)

When nothing happens and it's pure silence and something's still there. The only option at that point is to go. And I said, let's go. Let's get out of here.

Kelsey Brennan (24:06)

The closest exit off the stage is to continue straight up the aisle that goes through the audience into the lobby and down the hill into the parking lot. But what it means is we have to go past this figure and, you know, we're walking with purpose. But I couldn't help myself. I turn my head to the right and I get a good look at this person, this figure. And even from that close, really three or four feet away, it's still just black and fuzzy. There's no features. It's a black mass that had enough weight that the seat was down. I think the most frightening thing is the proximity I had to this person did not inspire them to address me. It didn't move, it didn't turn towards me. And that felt very odd. My heart's racing. It's the fight or flight. It's the adrenaline. It's the urgency to get away. So when we reach the landing, that is the lobby at this point, I have to check in with Andy. And so I turn to him and I say, did you see?

Andy Trishinski (25:44)

And I jump in immediately and say, the thing coming down aisle five in the theater.

Kelsey Brennan (25:49)

And we just start running. Were kind of like, you know, giggling and kind of whispering and like, what is going on? What was that?

Lynn Washington (26:11)

Did you know there's an online cannabis company that ships federally legal THC right to your door? And they found a way to combine THC with carefully selected functional ingredients to create gummies, baked goods, and flour, delivering the experience you're looking for. I'm talking about mood.com and they have an incredible line of cannabis gummies. And you can get 20% off your first order@mood.com with promo code spooked. Forget the one size fits all, because Mood functional gummies are optimized to kick in as little as 15 minutes and dial in what you're looking for, like their sleepy time advanced gummies for a mind soothing calm at night. The mind magic gummies for focused, deep work, for enhanced creativity. You can find basic gummies anywhere. But you're not basic. Mood's functional gummies combine premium federally legal THC with targeted botanicals to help you get into the perfect mood, usually in as little as 15 minutes, and everything shipped discreetly right to your door. No dispensary lines, no awkward conversations, just better days and nights delivered to your doorstep. Best of all, not only is every Mood product backed by a 100 day satisfaction guarantee, but as I mentioned, listeners get 20% off their first order with code spooked. So head to mood.com, find the functional gummy that matches exactly what you're looking for, and let Mood help you discover your perfect mood. And don't forget to use the promo code spooked when you check out. To save 20% on your first order, try today@mood.com.

Andy Trishinski (28:05)

As we get to the bottom of the hill, we climb into one of our cars and we start talking about it to try to get some sort of rationale to the situation.

Kelsey Brennan (28:17)

We say, okay, hold on. Let's. Let's think about this realistically. Who could that have been?

Andy Trishinski (28:26)

Is it so and so? Is it Matt? Is it maybe Tracy who is also directing?

Kelsey Brennan (28:31)

So we call Matt. He doesn't pick up the phone. We leave a voicemail. Hey, man, were you just in the theater? Were you up there? Was that you? Were you playing a trick on us? We called Tracy. She doesn't pick up. We leave a message. Nobody called me back that night. So I still thought maybe it was Matt, you know, just being weird. And maybe he thought we couldn't see him. You know, I really was just trying to rationalize the event.

Andy Trishinski (29:00)

As I'm lying in bed, Matt, all I'm thinking is I have no explanation of what I've experienced tonight. I don't believe it's someone I've known out there. If it was someone I known, they would have said something. It just never felt like this was a normal situation.

Kelsey Brennan (29:30)

So the next day I had a scheduled check in with Brenda DeVita, my boss, just in her office. I said, okay, so this thing happened to me in Andy last night. Is there a groundskeeper? Is there anyone who would have been up there around 10 o' clock when all the lights are off? And she kind of looked at me and she said, no, nope. If there's no show, there's nobody up the hill. And I said, okay, well, let me tell you this whole story of what happened. She starts to get emotional and she goes, okay, stay right there, stay right there. And she runs out of her office and she grabs Ken Albers. Ken Albers is a director with a huge history of experience in the theater. She knew those actors, he knew the history. And she said, ken, listen to this. Kelsey, tell it again. I told the story again. She looks at Ken, she goes, what do you think? And he goes, it was Stephen. You met Stephen last night. Stephen Heming was a much, much loved actor at apt.

Andy Trishinski (30:49)

There's a memorial built for Stephen at the theater. Like a little garden plot. Essentially, that is in memory of Stephen Heming.

Kelsey Brennan (31:00)

He played the Friar. People remember him in that role.

Andy Trishinski (31:06)

In Romeo and Juliet there's a character, Friar Lawrence, who essentially is there to bridge the gap between, between these two families. And he sees and tests the love of Romeo toward Juliet, even telling him straight up basically that this is passion, this is lust, this is not love. And Romeo proves to him. So the Friar is the person that clandestinely goes and helps these two form their love so far as to marry them in some secret. When we told everyone our experience, everyone immediately replied with, we felt Steven in the space.

Kelsey Brennan (31:48)

One of the things that Ken said in this meeting was I think Stephen just was there to watch the kids fall in love one more time. The friar is this beautiful, supportive force in the story, and that's what he was for us that night.

Andy Trishinski (32:05)

The person that joins their hands in matrimony in the show comes in and helps us figure this stuff out.

Kelsey Brennan (32:17)

So on the actual performance day, it was. It was a 2pm Matinee, not for a full house.

Andy Trishinski (32:26)

And then as we start performing, it becomes the hottest day on record.

Kelsey Brennan (32:35)

Andy and I were both terribly ill. We both had terrible, terrible colds.

Andy Trishinski (32:41)

We both probably have fevers or something.

Kelsey Brennan (32:44)

I have to say that I think the experience of rehearsing the play in the dark with a ghost felt closer to the actual scene story that Shakespeare wrote than our performance. We shared a secret. We had a thrilling experience together. We experienced something that no one else will understand. And that's what Romeo and Juliet have. They have a connection that only they really know about.

Lynn Washington (33:25)

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Kelsey Brennan and Andy Trishinski. And thank you to Steven the eternal Fire Lawrence for coming back from beyond the grave to make sure the production went smoothly. We see you. The original score was by Nicholas Marks. It was produced by Zoe Frign. Now, spooksters, we walk this path together. Spook season six. And if you yourself possess an inexplicable power which no one will believe, tell me all about it. Let us know your story spookednapjudgment.org because there is nothing better than a spooked story from a spooked listener. Spooked@snapjudgment.org and let the dark side know that you spook with some spooked gear. The T shirt of your dreams available right now@snapjudgment.org and remember, if you like your storytelling under the bright light of day, get the amazing stupendous Snap Judgment podcast. It might just change your life because it's storytelling with a beat. Spook was created by the team that picnics in cemeteries, except, of course, for Mark Ristich because of the incident. There's Anna Sussman, Eliza Smith, Chris Hambrick, Annie Nguyen, Lauren Newsom, Leon Morimoto, Davey Kim, Renzo Goriot, Teo Da Cott, Marissa Dodge, Zoe Fergnell, Tiffany Deliza, Jacob Winnick, Anne Ford, and Doug Stewart. The spook theme song is by Pat Mesiti Miller. My name is Lynn Washington. And I understand that even to the people closest to you, people you love most in the world, there are things you hold secret, unrevealed even from them. That is as it should be but never withhold hard won information that could save everything you hold dear Let them know that you know to never ever never ever never ever ever ever Never turn out the lights.