The casting is complete … and we’re just a little over a month away from a unique fundraiser, benefitting the Oakdale Citizens Cemetery.

Scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 5 at the East J Street cemetery, it’s ‘Once Upon A Tomb’ featuring six local residents taking on the roles of notable Oakdale residents, buried at the cemetery.

Those in the cast include Kelly Skultety as Grace Wright; Jacob Boss as Joseph Kornmayer; Pastor Henry Raven as Mitchell “Shorty” Stanton; Ray Leverett as Sheriff George Morrison; Rudy Skultety as Henry Langworthy; and Derick Sturke as “Judge” William A. Griffin.

“Tickets are available now,” said Amy Velasco, helping coordinate the event, in cooperation with local historians.

Tickets for this walking tour cost $25 per person and the tours will start at dusk. There are staggered start times; each tour will stop at each gravesite and learn the history of the characters being portrayed by the local actors.

“They’re all so excited,” Velasco said of the cast members, eager to bring history to life in a unique way.

Tours begin at the 701 E. J St. cemetery at 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and the program runs roughly an hour.

“Any age is fine,” Velasco said of attendees, though she does add a word of warning. “But it is going to be a little spooky … it is in a cemetery at night.”

Proceeds of the event will benefit the Oakdale Citizens Cemetery, assisting with upkeep and special projects.

Velasco said the program will give tour attendees some detailed background information on each character being portrayed, along with their connection and significant contributions to the community. She noted that the cast members are enjoying the chance to embrace their alter egos, and are busy practicing for the special October event.

With a theme of ‘Where Mystery Meets History,’ organizers said they hope attendees will leave the program “enlightened, thrilled, and maybe even a little chilled.”

Ticket information is available at oakdalecitizenscemetery.org