‘Ghost’ makes way from film to Forum stage – and of course there’s a pottery wheel

When a production makes its way from a popular movie to a musical stage version, there are some givens that have to make the transition as well.

For “Ghost: The Musical,” it’s the pottery wheel.

“Everyone always remembers that scene,” said Chelsey Ehresman, who plays Molly in the Forum Theatre production, opening this weekend.

“I think it pays a nice little homage to it, with a little twist to make it friendly for the stage and not as cinematic,” said Steve Hitchcock Jr., who plays Sam.

“It’s a really touching moment, a beautiful moment,” director Kathryn Page Hauptman said. “I think it’s very true to the movie and to the story. It’s as true as you can be on stage to the movie.”

The film version of “Ghost” was one of the most successful movies of 1990, with Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze in the lead roles. Adrienne DeGraftenreed plays psychic Oda Mae Brown, the part that won Whoopi Goldberg a supporting actress Oscar.

Hauptman says she’s watched the movie “a million times” and liked how well the screenplay was turned into the script.

“When you look at the story itself, it’s a great story,” she said. “It’s a story that grabs everyone’s heart. I think the music is quite good, rock ‘n’ roll edge, beautiful ballads that are just gorgeous.”

The score is composed by Dave Stewart, best known as one half of the ‘80s pop duo Eurythmics; and Glenn Ballard, a producer and songwriter whose resume includes writing hits for Michael Jackson and Alanis Morissette.

“I’ve liked the music for a while,” Hitchcock said. “I remember listening to the music when it first came out and thought it was a lot of fun. And the music is timeless. And it’s one of my favorite movies from the ‘90s.”

Ehresman was cast in the part despite never seeing the movie – which was released a year before she was born.

“It was all very new to me,” she said. “Even listening to the music and reading the script to go along with it, it just broke my heart.”

While the movie “Ghost” didn’t have budget-busting CGI effects, there are some scenes that are easier to pull off cinematically than on a stage.

Hauptman said all of the effects are there, albeit with a bit of trickery.

“The lighting is going to give you the effect you want,” she said. “Once the audience gets into it, I think their imaginations will take over.”

Hitchcock and Ehresman have played opposite each other several times before, but she said this may be the most challenging — since her romantic interest on stage is deceased.

“I’m completely ignoring another actor,” she said. “I have to look through him. It’s very challenging.”

It was also a change of pace for Hauptman.

“As a director, I’m always, ‘You have to look at the other actor. You have to make a connection with him,’” she said with a laugh. “Now I find myself giving that direction and going ‘Oops!’”

“Ghost: The Musical”

When: Through March 6; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays

Where: Wilke Center, First United Methodist Church, 330 N. Broadway

Tickets: $23 Thursdays and Sundays, $25 Fridays-Saturdays, from 618-0444 or forumtheatre.org