Walk up to the second floor of Salem’s YMCA on Essex Street and you step into something unexpected. Ames Memorial Hall is a restored 19th-century auditorium — high ceilings, warm wood, the kind of room that earns its atmosphere before anyone takes the stage. This October it hosts the Ames Hall Gothic Series: two shows worth planning a day around. First, The Woman in Black runs October 2–18, $30, recommended for ages 12 and up. Then The Haunted Hall opens October 23 — candlelit solo piano, 45 minutes, multiple slots a day through Halloween and into November, $25. Both play at 290 Essex Street. Additionally, proceeds support Creative Arts programming and scholarships at the YMCA of the North Shore.
What is the Ames Hall Gothic Series?
The series runs two back-to-back productions in the same room.
First, The Woman in Black adapts Susan Hill’s classic ghost story. Alexandra Dietrich directs. The cast is Tyler Twombly, Gary Ames, Stanis Ames, and Ariel Sargent. It runs 90 minutes with no intermission. Additionally, it carries an advisory for suspense, frightening moments, darkness, theatrical effects, and themes of grief, and the YMCA recommends it for ages 12 and up. Tickets are $30.
Then comes The Haunted Hall. Specifically, pianist Eleena Gelfgatt performs alone by candlelight for 45 minutes — piano, atmosphere, and a 19th-century room doing what it was built for. Tickets are $25.
The Woman in Black: craft over spectacle
This one scares through storytelling. Two performers carry the full 90 minutes. Meanwhile, the set stays minimal, so the atmosphere does the work. Ames Memorial Hall is intimate enough that you feel all of it.
Furthermore, it is one of the few indoor, seated theatrical experiences running in early-October Salem. Performances are Fridays at 7:30 PM, Saturdays at 2:00 and 7:30 PM, and Sundays at 2:00 PM, through October 18. Every performance is listed here. Therefore, if you are in town for a full weekend, the evening slots drop neatly into the day.
How do I fit The Haunted Hall into a Salem day?
The Haunted Hall runs 45 minutes, with slots at 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, and 8:00 PM depending on the date. Therefore, it slides in between dinner and whatever comes next. Alternatively, take the 2:00 PM and keep your whole evening open.
The hall sits steps off the Essex Street pedestrian mall. Specifically, you walk up, sit down, spend 45 minutes with candlelit piano, and walk back out into the middle of Salem’s October.
Then there is the Halloween scheduling. Four performances run on October 31, at 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, and 8:00 PM. Additionally, three more run on November 1. Halloween in Salem is loud, cold, and packed, and November 1 is one of the quietest, easiest days of the whole month to be downtown. See all 20 dates and times.
Which show should I see?
See both if you can. Specifically, they do not overlap at all — The Woman in Black closes October 18, and The Haunted Hall opens October 23.
For an early-October visit, The Woman in Black is the better fit. It is a full evening of theatre and carries the whole night. Meanwhile, for Halloween weekend, The Haunted Hall is the easier call. The flexible slots and short runtime make it the most schedulable thing in Salem that week.
Furthermore, first-timers tend to be surprised by the room itself. It already looks the part before the lights go down.
Ames Hall Gothic Series: full schedule and tickets
The Woman in Black — 90 min · $30 · ages 12+ · advisory for suspense, frightening moments, darkness, and themes of grief
- Fridays, Oct 2, 9, 16 — 7:30 PM
- Saturdays, Oct 3, 10, 17 — 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
- Sundays, Oct 4, 11, 18 — 2:00 PM
The Haunted Hall — 45 min · $25 · Eleena Gelfgatt, solo piano
- Friday, Oct 23 — 6:00, 8:00 PM
- Saturday, Oct 24 — 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00 PM
- Sunday, Oct 25 — 2:00, 4:00, 6:00 PM
- Thursday, Oct 29 — 6:00, 8:00 PM
- Friday, Oct 30 — 6:00, 8:00 PM
- Saturday, Oct 31 — 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00 PM
- Sunday, Nov 1 — 2:00, 4:00, 6:00 PM
Both shows are at Ames Memorial Hall, 290 Essex Street, Salem. Both also appear on our full October events calendar alongside everything else happening in Salem this season.
FAQ
How early should I arrive?
Aim for 10 to 15 minutes early. The auditorium is on the second floor of the Salem YMCA, so leave time to get upstairs and find a seat. Seating is general admission, so arriving earlier gets you more choice. Our visitor FAQ covers parking and getting around Salem in October.
Is the hall accessible? Are there stairs?
Ames Memorial Hall is a second-floor auditorium at 290 Essex Street. The YMCA describes the facility as handicapped accessible and air-conditioned. Therefore, if you need step-free seating or want to confirm the accessible route for your performance date, contact the venue before you book.
What should I wear?
Dress for a New England October night. The hall is climate controlled, but you are walking to and from it in Salem in October, so bring a layer. Otherwise, whatever you would wear for a night out works fine.
Can I bring kids?
The Woman in Black is recommended for ages 12 and up, with an advisory for suspense, darkness, and themes of grief. Meanwhile, the organizers have published no age guidance for The Haunted Hall. It suits kids who are comfortable sitting quietly for 45 minutes in low light.
About the author: John Andrews is the founder of Creative Collective, covering Essex County arts, business, and community.
