The search for our 2008 cast members starts tomorrow. We begin the process of locating, auditioning and possibly hiring some of Salt Lake’s freakiest people! For me, auditions are the most exciting time. You never know what kind of talent will walk through the door… and a lot of the time, the person doesn’t even know what amazing scares they will be creating!

Acting in a haunted house is different than acting in a theatre production, and many of the people who work for us would not be considered actors in the traditional sense. Haunted house acting has a lot to do with personality, having no reservations, the willingness to get ugly, and the ability to reach into the depths of your mind to find phrases and movements that feel completely unnatural in everyday life. In order to frighten people, you must have no fear!

In my many years at the haunted house, I have seen a wide variety of people… some who look like they belong in a haunted house, and some who don’t. Like the teenage ballerina that was afraid to set foot inside the door, who ended up winning our best actress trophy that season. Or the man who had lost all of his fingers due to frost bite, and loved to use his digit-less hands to scare customers. Our cast truly is a melting pot. Goths, jocks, actors, old men, young mothers, college sudents, bankers, waiters… We have seen it all. I can’t wait to see who will be joining our family of freaks this year… how about you?? 

Our 2006 and 2007 commercials turned out to be some of the most frightening and well-produced commercials a haunted house could ever ask for! They even won Telly Awards (which honor the best in regional and cable TV ads)! Now, our brand new 2008 commercial has been released! I didn’t think the producers could make anything better than the previous commercials, but they have done it again!

Here it is, the 2008 Nightmare Commercial:

On Friday, June 13th, we had the priviledge of hosting a wedding for Utah’s unluckiest couple. Friends and family gathered at the haunted house, as the unlucky bride and groom said their nuptials, with our own 7 1/2 foot tall mascot Death posing as the best man. After a lovely, yet frightening, ceremony, the newlyweds rode off into the sunset in a brand new hearse courtesy of a local mortuary.  It was a celebration none of us will ever forget!

Link to the story: http://www.abc4.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=C7B28123-D090-41D8-BE9C-D159AAA77B16&gsa=true

Thanks to the sweltering temperatures, it doesn’t seem like Halloween is going to be here any time soon… but to those of us who know the thrill of the scare, Halloween is just a scream away! Over the past 8 months, we have been planning, designing, and constructing an all new Nightmare for 2008! We have definitely kicked up the fear factor this season! We have an all new Psycho Circus, Mental Hospital, and other new attractions that aren’t for the faint of heart! Get ready for our most frightening and most elaborate season yet!

As the dog days of summer start winding down, remember that your Nightmare is about to begin!!