Fans of The Walking Dead know Jeffrey Dean Morgan as one of TV’s most terrifying villains, the sadistic bully and extortionist Negan. But in real life, the actor is known to fellow Rhinebeckers as a good neighbor who, along with his wife, actress Hilarie Burton (One Tree Hill), and friend, actor Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), rescued a local candy store, Samuel’s Sweet Shop, when it was in danger of closure.
The trio are also avid supporters of Astor Services for Children and Families, the Rhinebeck-based charity that offers residential and outpatient treatment and prevention programs for children with mental illnesses. As a fundraiser for Astor Services, the three thespians will convene on Saturday, February 9 at the Ulster Performing Arts Center (UPAC) in Kingston for a program of live readings titled Ghost Stories 3: A Cold Winter’s Night. The performance promises to deliver “ghoulish fun, surprise guests and spooky hauntings.” If one of those surprise guests happens to be a barbed-wire-covered baseball bat nicknamed Lucille, she had better not be introduced until they’re ready to clear the house in a hurry.
The show begins at 5 p.m. Ticket prices are $41, $51, $81 and $106. For well-heeled fans and dedicated Astor supporters, there’s a special $506 price for VIP treatment, including seating in the first five rows plus admission to a meet-and-greet/photo session. To purchase, visit the UPAC box office at 601 Broadway in Kingston, (845) 339-6088; the Bardavon box office at 35 Market Street in Poughkeepsie, (845) 473-2072; or call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
Ghost Stories 3: A Cold Winter’s Night, Saturday, Feb. 9, 5 p.m., UPAC, 601 Broadway, Kingston, (845) 339-6088, $506/$106/$81/$51/$41, www.bardavon.org
Join the family! 
