Scariest Play -- Ever!
Horror movies can be lots of fun! Join producer C.C. Bellows as he meets five directors whose movie pitches come alive onstage. Of course, C.C. knows that audiences only really like what they’ve seen before, so each of the directors has tweaked a famous horror film. “The Calamityville Horror” tells the story of a family who move into a house that’s haunted by circus animals. In “Saturday the 14th,” a group of college kids hope to find the famous ghost, Jacob Voorbees, a hockey player who fell through thin ice. In “The Extortionist,” a young girl is possessed by the spirit of Medusa, the lady with the snakes instead of hair. In “Paranormal Sensitivity,” a young husband insists on filming every moment a bridal shower but it’s only when he manages to scare off the whole party that he really gets something exciting to film. In the final pitch, “Nightmare on Oak Street,” a sleepover turns into a terrifying exercise in trying to stay awake so the spirit of a crazed choirmaster doesn’t capture the kids. This widely flexible play is great for Halloween or any time of the year!
Productions
Behind The Scenes
Playwright Craig Sodaro Talks About
SCARIEST PLAY -- EVER!
Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?
A: I have always loved suspense and horror movies that don’t rely on blood and gore for their main thrill. I particularly like ghost stories, and one day I bought a DVD of the old, 1970s “Amityville Horror.” As I was watching it, I thought it would be fun to write a parody.
Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY? WHY?
A: My favorite part in the play is the opening of “Paranormal Sensitivity.” Monty is so annoying, yet we all know somebody like Monty, so we feel for him—especially knowing that it’s all going to end up badly.
Q: WHERE DO THE CHARACTERS COME FROM? ARE THEY BASED ON PEOPLE YOU KNOW?
A: I never consciously base any characters on people I know. That doesn’t mean they’re not like people I know—I just can’t point to any particular character and say, oh, that’s my old college roommate or anything like that. In a parody, the characters really are extensions of the originals—just twisted a bit differently like a pretzel.
Q: WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS PLAY?
A: A lot of laughs!
Q: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
A: I hope that the play says it all. Horror movies can be lots of fun!