As the calendar prepares to flip into its last quarter, the yellowing leaves speckle the quiet streets, and the thinning crowds provide space to once again dwell on ourselves, the Belfast Maskers soldier on. With a successful run of September’s Playboy of the Western World in the rearview, our October production of Months on End now takes center stage. This play, which will run from October 11-20, uses scenes set in each month to seamlessly weave many characters’ stories into one, creating piece-by-piece a full year of love, conflict, and growth.

Though we still have some time before 2024 expires, the beginning of fall is always ripe for reflection, and like it or not Months on End will indeed force you to consider the passage of time. Who are you now, and who were you last fall? Would they recognize each other? What changes have you and your relationships gone through since the last time everything was pumpkin spiced? It is often disturbing to step back, take a grander look at life, and realize how much has zoomed by without a warning. Where did all of this time go? I swear it was around here somewhere...

October is also famous for its spookiness, and this year we are joining in on the tricks and treats by hosting a Haunted House and Halloween Carnival on Saturday, October 26th. We also begin our after-school youth classes this month, where the next generation of Maskers will learn what it takes to make it on our stage. And finally, October means planning for the 2025 Belfast Maskers season will be completed soon! I sure hope somebody is doing that right now. It’s a busy month, folks, so enjoy our selection of October events. I know I will; nobody loves Autumn more than me!
—Tucker Atwood, Artistic Director