Students spook at ScareHouse

Published: Monday, October 24, 2011

Nick Sperdute caused an unknown man to drop to his knees before him and begin to pray from fear after turning to see a painted face of a haunting man.

When Felicia Williams whispered a woman's name in her ear, she bolted hysterically out of the room, never looking back.

A girl is stopped in her tracks and brought to tears after being confronted by Scott Sudzina and a fellow co-worker, appearing as two ghoulish figures.

This isn't a set-up for a feature horror film, but rather the product of part-time Halloween jobs and spook-filled encounters at TheScareHouse that have offered Point Park University students both a beneficial learning experience and a unique work environment filled with screams, cries, and "tortured" souls.

Kelly Cline

Steve LaRussa, senior radio/TV broadcast major, is

currently in his fourth year of working for The

ScareHouse, located in Etna.

The autumn months bring a scary attraction to the Pittsburgh area for those who dare to enter. Located in Etna, Pa., The ScareHouse is home to "One of America's Scariest Halloween Attractions," according to The Travel Channel. Students at Point Park have taken it upon themselves to join in on the festivities, taking jobs at the haunted house.

Nicholas Sperdute, a junior broadcasting major, joined the hauntingsthis year. Hearing stories from friends, he decided to get involved.

"While I'm in Pittsburgh, I wanted to get a job," Sperdute said. "I figured, ‘What's better than scaring people?'"

Working as a floater, Sperdute gets to experience various positions and work in many areas of The ScareHouse. He has had his fair share of scares, including a memorable experience of a man falling to the ground from fear.

Kelly Cline

Nick Sperdute, junior broadcasting major, poses in a

spooky stance at The ScareHouse, located in Etna.

"This guy was about 6'3" and looked like a linebacker," Sperdutesaid. "I was right behind him and an air can went off, which prompted him to turn his head. He then saw me behind him, dropped to his knees, and said the ‘Our Father.'"

Williams, a freshman undecided major, has had similar experiences so far in her first year of working at The ScareHouse. She participated in acting and a haunted maze in her high school, and decided to continue her involvement in spooky environments while in college.

Williams was recruited at Point Park when Margee Kerr, senior manager of The ScareHouse, visited campus looking for students willing to participate in the hauntings.

"We've got a good handful of Point Park students," Kerr said. "I think they are all, hopefully, having a great time."

Williams has had a positive experience thus far. She has left many people frightened and stunned, including a specific encounter that she recalls. Williams was provided with a name of a future visitor and used this information to her advantage.

"I go up behind these two ladies and say, ‘Hi Kim,'" Williams said. "The one lady looks and tells her friend that the actor had just said her name. And they all turn around and I say, ‘Hello Kim,' and she freaks out and runs to the next room."

The work experience has not only been enjoyable to Williams but also beneficial. She explains that it taught her how to adapt in different situations and to learn quickly in such a fast-paced environment.

Trumaine Verret-Flemming, a sophomore acting major, also said that The ScareHouse has proved to be a learning experience.

"In general, I think people can learn that it's fun to be or do something that you're not normally used to doing," Verret-Flemming said. "Normally you don't get to walk down the street scaring people."

As a floater, Verret-Flemming has also had the opportunity to try out many different positions. He is usually placed in the sewer as a sailor, but has also worked towards the end of the haunt, where a wall drops that reads: "You Have Survived." He explained that while people think they are safe at this point, he pops out at them in attempts to give them one final scare.

Scott Sudzina, a junior sport, arts and entertainment management major, joins the hauntings for his second year. With previous experience in community haunted houses, he found it appropriate to continue this practice at The ScareHouse.

Sudzina recalls many people dropping to the ground from fear while walking through the house. He even managed to bring a girl to tears with a fellow co-worker.

"We got this girl at the same time," Sudzina said. "She stopped, looked at us both, and just started crying."

While the tears may not be the reaction that Sudzina would prefer, he admits that it confirms he is doing his job well.

Sudzina, along with other Point Park students, plan to continue working at The ScareHouse in following years.

Kelly Cline

Felicia Williams, freshman undecided major, began

working at The ScareHouse this year.

"It's a good hands-on experience with a business," Sudzina said. "You get to see how a business such as ScareHouse really runs. It's a good community experience."

For more information about The ScareHouse and their specific haunts, visit www.scarehouse.com.