Based on Washington Irving’s enduring American ghost story, Sleepy Hollow the Musical follows Ichabod Crane as he enters the mysterious village of Sleepy Hollow, where unsettling legends cast long shadows. Locals are wary, secretive, and bound by old fears. As Ichabod becomes entangled in the community’s folklore and superstitions, his journey leads him deep into the haunted Hollow. This eerie, sentient presence seems to have its own will and memories. His fate, like so many before him, becomes a chilling question mark when he vanishes without a trace.

Written and directed by Brenda Bell, with original music composed by Michael Sgouros, the show combines haunting live music—performed by a chamber ensemble of percussion and cello—with surreal choreography that shapes the Hollow itself into a living force on stage. The production was nominated for a New York Innovative Theatre Award for Best Original Music, noted for its evocative sound and physical storytelling. The creative team utilizes minimal sets, atmospheric soundscapes, and stylized movement to blur the lines between the real and the uncanny.

Produced by Literally Alive Theatre, Sleepy Hollow the Musical runs at the historic Players Theatre in New York’s West Village from September 26 through November 9, 2025. The venue’s intimate setting enhances the immersive tone of the production, which layers classic storytelling with a modern experimental edge. The musical features both family-friendly accessibility and darker undertones suitable for tweens and older audiences.