Behind the Scenes

Even if you're not an actor, there are plenty of ways to get involved with the Haunted Graveyard! We need behind-the-scenes help in the following areas:

• Professional makeup artists - We have pre-determined makeup routines for each house. Artists are assigned Houses that they are to work with and must keep within the guideline established by the Lead Makeup Designer. Previous theatrical/stage/film/television makeup experience is preferred.
  
  
• Costume Manager - We have hundreds of costumes that must be maintained and organized. Each house has specific costumes assigned to it. The Costume Manager must ensure each actor has the appropriate costume for the area he/she is working.
  
  As new areas are added to the Graveyard, the Costume Manager will be included in designing and/or determining the costumes needed. Light sewing skills are required for simple and on-the-spot repairs of costumes. Dryers are located in the Costume trailer, and, in the event of rain, the Costume Manager will ensure the Actors have dry costumes.
  
  
• Break Trailer - Our Actors get a 15-minute break during each evening. Food is provided by Lake Compounce.
  
  The staff in the Break Trailer will:
  • get a food count at the beginning of each evening from each House Manager and report that number to Lake Compounce so the food can be prepared and delivered on time
  • announce to the House Managers when breaks can begin
  • keep a log of each Actor entering the Break Trailer and keep track of the time spent in the trailer, sending them back to their House after 15 minutes
  • serve the food and drink to the Actors
  • make sure no food or drink leaves the Break Trailer
  • empty trash containers and keep the Break Trailer clean and free of food debris
  
  
• Ticket/Queue Line - Workers are needed at the Front End of the show taking tickets and managing the waiting line. Some nights can get very busy! With as many as 9,000 people a night, it's important that our queue line runs like clockwork! The Haunted Graveyard has "timed-tickets". When the tickets are purchased, there is a time printed on the ticket telling the Guests when they will be let into the Graveyard.
  
  That helps us control the crowd, but we still need organized, and patient people to help keep the line running smoothly. We care what people think of our show and are always asking for feedback. We need people at the end of the show to take surveys as Guests leave the show.
  
  
• Crowd Control/Guest Relations - We're too scary for some people! Yes, we do have people who can't take all the sights and sounds of the Haunted Graveyard and have to leave before they've seen it all. We need some kind people to help escort those Guests to safer quarters.
  
  But those same kind people are going to need to help remove the occasional Guest who's become possessed by one of our goblins and starts trouble of their own. We need people who can react quickly and calmly to help keep the Graveyard safe for all our Guests and staff.

Job Training & Hiring

Get the idea yet? Whether you're an Actor or not, there's probably a place for You at the Haunted Graveyard! It's for just about Anyone who loves Halloween!

We will be meeting with those interested in working at the Graveyard the week of August 30, from 6-7:30pm. If you're over 18 and interested being cast as a Featured Actor or working behind-the-scenes, come see us on Monday or Tuesday, August 30th & 31th, from 6-7:30pm. Download and complete the Adult Position application and bring that with a current resume or list of previous acting experience.

If you're 14-18 and in high school, come see us on either Wednesday, September 1 or Friday, September 3rd. from 6-7:30pm. Download and fill out the Scare Actor application. Be sure to have a parent or guardian sign the Permission Slip and Photo Release form. Also, please bring your high school ID card.

The meetings will be held at the Lake Compounce employee break pavilion. Go to the Lake Compounce Service Entrance at 822 Lake Avenue, Bristol, CT. Park in the employee parking lot across from the Service Entrance. The Security Guards will direct you to the meeting site.

If you have questions that are not covered here, email info@hauntedgraveyard.com. And to keep up with all the latest activities at the Graveyard, Friend us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Scare Jobs

Check out the links below to print your job application. Featured Actors, House Managers and Behind-the-Scenes staff should use the Adult Position Application (Must be over 18 years old for these positions) while Scare Actors should use the Scare Volunteer Application (For High School students ages 14-18).

• Scare Volunteer Application
• Adult Position Application

Here's hoping for a drier October in 2010!

Mother Nature didn't help us out last season, but our Show was better than ever! Our Featured Actors raised the level of the acting... and Scaring! And our Scare Actors were waiting around every corner, ready to give our customers a Screaming Good Time! We got great feedback from our customers. They loved us! So you Know they'll be back this year!

Featured Actors

For those new to the Graveyard, our attraction is made up of a series of "Houses". A 45-minute walk takes our guests through the six major Houses linked by a trail of eerie and terrifying scenes. Each area has a theme with a story to tell. Our Featured Actors are here to create the characters that tell those stories. Our storylines define the theme and characters of each House or trail. In some cases, there are scripted lines. But if you're an experienced actor that loves developing your character, then this is the place for you!

For the 2010 season, we are expecting 65,000 people to go through our gates in just 14 nights! Some nights we may have as many as 9,000 people walking through. You, as a Featured Actor, have only a matter of a few seconds, to convey your character, help tell the story of your House, and most importantly, Scare our guests!

Our Guests have to keep moving through the Houses, so no stopping for a soliloquy! But your character may move through several rooms of your House to support your character's development or the storyline of the House. You may pass them off to the next Featured Actor in your house. Along the way, our Scare Actors may be lurking in the shadows. While you're distracting our Guests, the Scare Actors jump out to add another element of surprise! Our goals is to make this year's Haunted Graveyard an interactive experience for our guests... without touching the guests, and without them touching you!

We pride ourselves on the rich detail of our Houses and Trails. Our sets and décor are second to none. We have scores of animatronics that jump, pop, poke, grab, fly and roll at you. The lighting and sound set the stage for each scene. Fog, wind and even a waterfall add to the sensations our Guests experience.

And, of course, the Screams. Screams can be heard from every corner of the Graveyard, heightening the tension and keeping our Guests wondering what's coming next! Now we want the Featured Actors to add another dimension to the Halloween experience. We want you to bring the stories of the Graveyard alive!

Scare Actors

Our Scare Actors have been with us since the beginning of the Haunted Graveyard in 1991. They have helped make us the largest Halloween show in New England and we couldn't do it without them! These High School volunteers (ages 14-18) are provided great costumes and makeup and help support the theme of the House where they are assigned.

Because of our association with the American Diabetes Association, high school students volunteering to work at the Graveyard can receive Community Service hours as well as great incentives such as Haunted Graveyard t-shirts and gift cards.

House Managers

As the Graveyard has grown, so have the responsibilities for the House Manager. Seventeen House Managers will take care of the staff and operation of the various Houses and Trails. In some cases, the House Manager may be responsible for more than one themed area. This year, the House Managers will not be in costume. For safety and communication purposes, the House Manager will wear a two-way radio with headset linked to other House Managers and Graveyard management.

The House Manager will be responsible for:

• opening and closing his/her area each night
• making sure costumes and props are available and dry
• taking attendance of the Featured and Scare Actors
• assigning positions for the Actors
• providing breaks for each Actor
• constantly monitoring the Actors and Scenes/Props and reporting anything missing/damaged
• serving as the safety person in case of any lost child or emergency situation
• evaluating the performance of the actors
• assisting the Haunted Graveyard management team in opening and propping the House at the beginning of the Season, and closing the House at the end of the Season

Basic Job requirements for everyone

• For a paid position, you MUST be 18 years old or over and a resident of the United States with the legal right to hold a job in the US.
• For Featured Actors, House Managers and Behind-the-Scenes staff, you must be available for all 14 nights of the show. Certain exceptions MAY be considered if requested at time of application.
• Scare Actors will be asked to fill out a list of nights available to work. We will expect you to be here for those nights! The more nights you work, the more Gift Incentives you will receive.
• All actors will be expected to arrive at the Graveyard at 4:00pm the day of each show to get in costume and makeup in time for the opening.
• One 15-minute break will be given each evening. Portable toilets (Men's and Women's) will be provided. Actors are expected to check the weather forecast prior to each evening's show and dress appropriately. It can get cold!
• SMOKING IS NOT ALLOWED ANYWHERE ON THE HAUNTED GRAVEYARD PROPERTY.
• NO CELLPHONES... CALLS OR TEXTING. NO EXCEPTIONS!
• Violation of Smoking and Cell phone rules are grounds for immediate dismissal.
• You cannot EVER touch the customers. And they cannot touch you!