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HHC: Welcome guys! Throughout the past couple of years, Statesville Haunted Prison has been the 'King of the Hill' of Chicagoland haunting. It's easy to see the vast amount of effort and energy that gets put into this attraction. But, you had to start somewhere. Although a tough question, how did you guys get your start? SHP: we actually started our haunting in an old shoe store in the mall. We were all theatre students down at S.I.U.C, and we needed to raise scholarship funds. We assembled a team of our best designers, technicians, and actors, and created our first haunt. After graduation, we met Paul Siegel, formed a partnership, and our theatre group has been designing and running the show ever since. HHC: How long has "Statesville Haunted Prison" been around? SHP: Statesville Prison was created in 1995, and The Foundation Theatre Group assumed creative control in 1998. HHC: Statesville Haunted Prison is Chicago's most intense tour. How many scenes do you have and which ones are your favorites to see your patrons get scared? SHP: The House has around 30 rooms. However, when you have over 50 actors in your house, the scenes and scares are everywhere. There is not a safe place in our house for the audience to relax. Our actors are like a pack of wild dogs, you don't find them, they find you. You are the hunted. HHC: How many people does it take to organize a house like yours (management)? SHP: Statesville is run as a professional theatre production. Beyond the 50 plus actors we have a production manager, technical manager, and two stage managers. All of our managers work professionally in the Chicago theatre scene. HHC: With the incredible design of your house, no one can deny that it must have taken years to perfect it. How does having a permanent location help to make each Halloween season easier? SHP: We have been in situations where we must take down the set after each season, and that sucks. Here at Statesville, we have the benefit of keeping the majority of our house up through the season. This enables us to commit an extra ordinary amount of work to some of our rooms, because we know it will serve us for years to come. However, we do tear out around 40% of the house each year, and create new and more aggressive scares. We believe our customers deserve something new and unexpected each year they return. HHC: Where do you get your inspiration? SHP: When you work as close to your friends as we do, you tend to inspire each other. We love what we do. HHC: How many people did you put through your house last year? SHP: I lost count, too much screaming. HHC: Of all the houses included on our website, Statesville Haunted Prison usually has the longest wait time due to hundreds of patrons in line to be terrified. What part of the area do most of your patrons come from? SHP: Every year we are impressed by the response we get from our patrons. Although the majority of them are from Chicago, we have seen return patrons from as far as Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, and Indiana. HHC: The 2002 Halloween season is quickly approaching and with that the Top 10 race is starting all over again. What changes are you planning? Any hints? What can we expect this season? SHP: Aggressive-Intense-Extreme We have changed 40% of the house again. It is the strongest design to date. It is bigger and it is meaner. If I were an audience member, beware of the Clown room. The clowns have been building. HHC: It is our opinion the secret to your success is the incredible group of actors that work at your house. They are trained, on the mark, and love what they do. Different than any other house, the core entertainment value is a direct result from the impressive quality and skill your actors possess. How many actors do you have working at your house? What kind of training do you put your actors through? SHP: We have over 50 actors on any given night. We train them in many of the Theatre arts. Acting in the mask, Stage Make-up, and the most important Acting in the space. Our haunted house in designed for the actor; we empower our actors with thoughtful design. So it is necessary to train them in the space. Teach them about the tools of the trade. HHC: How does it feel to be Chicagoland's #1 attraction for the past two years? SHP: We are of course proud of this. But it is not what drives us. We do our show for the audience, if they are running to their cars, screaming for their gods, wetting their underpants, using their loved ones as human body shields, and begging us to stop the madness; we know we have done our jobs. HHC:
How do your actors respond to the titles and honors your attraction
has SHP: Once again they are proud of this, but their honors and praises come every night in the form of terrified patrons. Our actors feed off of the fears of others. It pushes them through the night. They are hungry. HHC: Other than your own haunt, what are your favorite haunted houses? SHP: Dungeon of Doom, 11th Hour, Reapers Realm, and Dream Reapers. HHC: Ok and now for our "Fatal Five"…ready? Besides Haunting, what are your other hobbies? SHP: We are theatre people. You can usually find us on stage. HHC: Favorite Halloween Costume? SHP: (left intentionally blank)
SHP: Simpson's Halloween Special HHC: Favorite Horror Villain? SHP: IT HHC: Favorite Musician(s)? SHP: Mike Bradicich, Justin Di Giacomo, Ben Kramer, Bill Pasalaque, Tom Waits, and Ike Reilly. HHC: Finally, what would like to say to all your fans and everyone that is reading this interview and considering making the trip to visit your house? SHP: Come, Feed The Beast. And if you're lucky, the clowns will eat your skin. Thank you, burn in Hell. HHC: Thank you for your time, guys. We look forward to seeing what Statesville Haunted Prison has in store for us this year. Statesville Haunted Prison is located in Crest Hill, Illinois. Interview originally posted on Haunted House Chicago during October 2002. |
