ENTER A MYSTICAL WORLD WITH "GHOST"

                 CARLA R. STEWART AS ODA MAE AND STEVEN GRANT DOUGLAS
                 AS SAM              PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS

Whether or not you believe in the supernatural and things that go bump in the night, you're sure to be captivated by "Ghost The Musical" as it flies into the Hartford's Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts from Tuesday, June 10 to Sunday, June 15.

The iconic love story of Molly and Sam, Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze, in the movie, all mixed up with murder and the magical machinations of a wannabe psychic brought to life by Whoopi Goldberg, is now being transformed morphically into "Ghost the Musical."  Dave Stewart with Glen Ballard have infused it with stirring songs, adding to the mystery created by Bruce Joel Rubin's book.

When a man attacks a young couple Molly  (Katie Postotnik) and Sam (Steven Grant Douglas), as they return to their loft apartment in Brooklyn, it is the catalyst that sets off a chain of events.  Sam, a banker, has discovered some accounts with discrepancies at work and wants to investigate them more fully.  He confides in a co-worker Carl (Robby Haltiwanger) of his suspicions and Carl agrees to help him.

That night when Molly and Sam are on a date, attending an art exhibit for Molly, a sculptor, a thief tries to steal Sam's watch and wallet and he is killed in the struggle.  Molly had just confessed to Sam of her love and her desire to marry him, but Sam shied away from returning his proclamation of affection and never said "I love you." When she says those three words, he can only say "Ditto."

Suddenly Sam is gone.  His unfinished business on earth traps him here, as a ghost, and he is determined to help Molly, especially once he realizes she is in danger. In despair, Sam finds a psychic, Oda Mae Brown, (Carla R. Stewart) who may or may not be a fraud, to help him protect Molly.  He sends messages to Molly through Oda Mae but Molly is reluctant to accept the words she says.

Involving Carl and the police, Molly goes on an odyssey of discovery, hoping to connect to Sam in death as she never could in life.  Songs like "Unchained Melody," "Three Little Words" "Are You a Believer," "Nothing Stops Another Day" and "The Love Inside" propel the plot.

For tickets ($22 and up), call the Bushnell, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford at 860-987-5000 or online at www.bushnell.org.  Performances are Tuesday to Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m and 6:30 p.m.

Discover the gyrations, graphics and special spirited effects that will explode this love story with astonishing results and make this a magical adventure of a musical.