By Jane Moynihan 

Oct. 11, 2023: If you want to get into the spirit of Halloween while learning something new and having a fun evening out with friends or solo, The Bronxville Adult School (BAS) has you covered. 

To sign up for a lecture or class, or to browse the catalog, please visit bronxvilleadultschool.org. You may also call 914.395.0516 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can follow BAS on Instagram and Facebook @bronxvilleadultschool.

This month, two of BAS's most popular instructors will present classes that explore different aspects of contemporary culture's fascination with the dark side. 

Kevin Confoy's Class "Monster Mash"

Kevin Confoy's class Monster Mash: Oooh, It's Scary to Be in the Theater, looks at the rise of the supernatural in the current NY theatre scene.

It is playing on October 18th at 7 pm at The Bronxville School

Kevin Confoy is an award-winning producer, director, and actor who has been teaching theater and drama at Sarah Lawrence for 30 years. At BAS, he likes to structure his classes as more of a conversation than a lecture, offering snacks and beverages to promote discussion with and between the students. 

At his last class, he says, "the students didn't want to leave. They stayed on to continue discussing new plays on Broadway and even made plans to see a show together." 

Monster Mash will no doubt elicit another lively conversation while discussing a range of scary plays and films and the general allure of the macabre. He will discuss recent and current theater productions, including the horror-thriller Grey House and the musical adaptation of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. 

Confoy has produced plays by John Patrick Shanley, Marsha Norman, and Arthur Miller and directed plays by Joyce Carol Oates and Steve Martin. He has won an Obie, a Drama Desk award, and multiple grants. Don't miss this opportunity to get an inside look at the theater scene.

Christine Axen's Class on Dracula

Christine Axen's class, Dracula: History and Legend, examines the medieval roots of the Dracula legend. It is playing on October 25th at 7pm at The Bronxville School and via Zoom. 

Christine Axen is well-known in the BAS community for her fascinating and engaging classes on medieval history. She has built a broad and loyal following for her History Happy Hour series. This month, in honor of Halloween, she turns her attention to Dracula.

The class will explore how a 15th century lord, who became known as Vlad the Impaler, inspired Bram Stoker's 1897 novel. Connecting the enduring fascination with Stoker's vampire character with medieval history is a perfect example of why her students love her classes. Axen makes medieval history come alive. 

When preparing a class for BAS, Axen explains she 'follows the story the way it wants to be told." Her curiosity and knowledge are infectious. With a Ph.D. in medieval history, Axen is passionate about teaching at the university level and in the public forum and loves to give tours at the Met Cloisters. 

You can watch her on the History Channel in the current documentary series, "Dark Marvels." She is featured in several episodes covering siege weaponry, Roman combat, and the guillotine. Perfect viewing for Halloween!

Monster Mash: Oooh, It's Scary to Be in the Theater is on October 18th at 7 pm at The Bronxville School, and Dracula: History and Legend is on October 25th at 7pm at The Bronxville School and via Zoom. 

They are just two of over 200 classes and courses offered through the Bronxville Adult School. 

To sign up for a lecture or class, or to browse the catalog, please visit bronxvilleadultschool.org. You may also call 914.395.0516 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can follow BAS on Instagram and Facebook @bronxvilleadultschool.