Spend an afternoon in the cemetery meeting its residents!
Over a thousand people attend Tales of the Crypt, which is held every year on a Sunday in October from 2 to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Students from the Drama Department of Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School in Little Rock research a person buried in Mount Holly. Student guides lead the audience through the cemetery, stopping at the graves where student actors are stationed. The actors deliver short monologues or dialogues to highlight their characters’ history and lives, and they wear period costumes created by costumer Holly Payne.
This year’s performance of Tales of the Crypt is dedicated to the memory of Mr. Fred Boosey, former Theatre teacher at Parkview Arts-Science Magnet. In 1995, he was the first director of Tales of the Crypt. Through his eyes, students learned to appreciate the history of Mount Holly Cemetery. He relished working with the actors on their performances. To him, Tales of the Crypt perfectly combines interesting information and engaging entertainment. Mr. Boosey continued to come to “press day” each year after his retirement to watch the students’ performances and offer his support to Mount Holly and Parkview’s combined efforts on Tales of the Crypt.
2026’s scenes and actors:
EAST Tour
- Henry Brookin (performed by Evan Hauser)
- Anne Warren & Maria Rebecca Warren Craigen (performed by Kamari Bailey & Ariana Woods)
- David O. Dodd & Mary Dodge (performed by Cannon Carpenter & Reese Von Storch)
- Carrick & Bertha Coyle Forbes Heiskell (performed by Eli Vandenberg & Lorelai Carswell)
- Robert Watson, MD & PLD Watson (performed by Harrison Sites & Lilia McAllister)
- Albert Stocking and his wives Mary “Mollie” Stocking and Lula Woodard Stocking (performed by Siquori Love, Kennedi Graves, & Chloe Watts)
WEST Tour
- Roswell & Clarissa Eliot Beebe (performed by Logan Gould & AndiKat VanKuren)
- Sally Faulkner (performed by Elizabeth Atkins)
- Quatie & John Ross (performed by Avril Villanueva & Christopher Sanchez)
- Frank & Eliza Miller (performed by O’Mari Ellington & Brooklynn Lott)
- Peter & Eliza Caulder (performed by Austin Berenard & Sienna James)