Franklin Fright Night: An Evening of Spooky Songs & Stories

A Bloch Performing Arts Faculty Recital

Saturday, October 11th, 7:30 PM

Park Avenue Congregational Church

50 Paul Revere Rd, Arlington, MA

Akela Franklin, soprano

Neshama Franklin, storyteller

Tristan Leung, piano

With Jessica Bloch-Moisand, guest soprano

Join Grandmother / Granddaughter duo Neshama and Akela Franklin for an intergenerational evening examining a few of the things that cloud and terrify our collective human consciousness. A seasoned and lauded storyteller, Neshama will spin you bone chilling yarns - folktales from the creepiest corners of Europe. Soprano and Bloch Performing Arts voice faculty, Akela, will recite tales of mystery and woe through selections of musical theatre, German lieder, modern English language art song, and a little taste of the Cartoon Network autumn classic, Over the Garden Wall. The program will also feature the second ever performance of Poor Katy, a murder ballad composed in 2024 by Rachel DeVore Fogarty with text by tenor and librettist Leo Balkovetz.

Tristan Leung will be featured on piano, and Jessica Bloch-Moisand will join as a guest soprano. This program is produced by Bloch Performing Arts Inc.

A note from the performers:

Here in New England, the best time of year has arrived. The air is as crisp as the apples in the orchard, the fiery orange and gold of the leaves ignite a glow in our hearts, and - partly due to the actions of some problematic Puritans in 1692 Salem - this place develops an air of fascinating foreboding unlike any other. Spooky season is upon us, and we’re here to get you in the mood. Whether you’ll leave this night with a sense of morbid curiosity, an appreciation for just how “emo” 19th century German poets were, or plain scared out of your wits is anyone’s guess. However, to quote Glinda and Elphaba (the most popular witches of our time), though none can say if you’ll be “changed for the better”, because you dared to come and listen, you’ll be “changed for good”.

Content Warning

This program is rated PG-under 12 for occasional mentions of death, murder, and body horror. It’s not intensely graphic, but we wouldn’t call it tame either. If you choose to bring a child under the age of 12, know that covering one’s ears or taking a break in the church’s Narthex is perfectly inoffensive - in fact, it’s recommended! Preserve your mental health and live to slay another day.