If you ever took an acting class, one of the first things you're told is to know your character type. The same rule applies in a haunt. (Though, walking in with zero theatre knowledge or background won't knock you out of the runnings. Newbies are always welcomed.) Acting for a haunted house is much more than just being able to scream or wield a chainsaw. Of course, being able to do those two things could benefit you, but knowing the general character types within most haunts is the greatest tool you can have in your arsenal.
Character classifications can be broken down into various sections. For this post, we will start with the most important classification of characters: Zero Dialogue, Medium Dialogue, and High Dialogue. This is one of the main things a Casting Director or Stage Manager will want to know when you audition, "Are you comfortable with speaking?" It's not a trick question and it will not hurt your chances of being hired. If anything, this will help The Powers That Be put you in the best position possible for your character type.
Zero Dialogue Characters will usually mean just that, zero dialogue. An actor who prefers not to speak can be an essential part to any haunt. Most of your Zombies, Creatures, Crazies, and Creepers can have zero dialogue, though, expect to make some kind of noise. (There are no mimes in a haunted house...or at least there shouldn't be. Mimes are weird.) When auditioning, expect to be asked to make a noise or sound to make up for the lack of speaking. It may also help to have some kind of movement to accompany this sound. Zombie's would have a specific walk, Crazies would have a specific tick, Creepers will...creep? You get the picture. Just make sure that you have something special to bring to the table since you will most likely not have a monologue to perform at your audition.
Medium Dialogue Characters are those who don't mind learning a few lines and saying a few words, but there is no stress of having to improv or be the center of attention. One of my first characters was a Medium Dialogue Character. I think I had four or five lines that I had to repeat the whole night. Other than that, I didn't have to think too much on my toes. Most of these Medium Dialogue Characters are distractions for your main scare or filler roles for your transition rooms. (We will cover the anatomy of a scare and what I just referenced in a later post.) Zombies and Creatures (other than mid transformation/mutation creatures) are typically excluded from this category. When auditioning for this type of role, it is best to have a monologue prepared, but if you are unable to find or whip one up in time, Stage Managers will more than likely have a list of lines to have you read from.
High Dialogue Characters are not for the faint of heart, but don't let that scare you away. These characters will typically be given many lines (and by many I mean multiple pages of lines) and will sometimes be handed a backstory to work with as well. These characters will sometimes have to improv, will most likely be major characters in the haunt, and are susceptible to being sent to cue line. Your High Dialogue Characters will be the most developed in your haunt and can be made "the face" of your attraction if The Powers That Be so wish it. As coveted as these type of roles can be, it's a lot of hard work and time spent perfecting and creating the character. These characters are the hardest to recast if an actor suddenly drops out, so keep that in mind when you are gunning for this position.
Once you are placed into one of these dialogue categories, then you begin to trickle into the next set of classification: Low Energy and High Energy.
Low Energy Characters are those who have little to no physical activity or are strictly dialogue. These roles are best suited for Creepy, Dramatic, sometimes Crazy, and Zombie roles (unless your zombie is one of those fast moving, World War Z kind of things, then ignore this section). This type of character is perfect for those who have medical or physical restrictions, low stamina, or those who love to talk and talk and talk, but prefers not running around like a maniac. (For example: Cain has two characters, Eddie, who is High Energy, and Mr. Tender, who is Low Energy. Both are performed with the same passion, dedication, and development, but the scares work differently. One is a wild beast who rushes people, while the other lurks and lingers with a creepy snide comment here or there.) And for clarification, "Low Energy" does NOT mean LAZY. I can't stress that point enough.
High Energy Characters are the ones that you will see jumping from grave to grave, running through the halls, climbing on the ceiling, and basically busting holes into walls, though some of these characters are less destructive and are simply little energizer bunnies that have taken a hit of cocaine. (But please don't actually take cocaine. It's a haunted house, not a crack house.) These roles sometimes require a lot of physical activity and conditioning pre-season. High Energy Characters are typically your Crazy, Creature, sometimes Zombie, and sometimes Dramatic characters. Dramatic characters seem like a strange addition to this group, but at Ravenwood Manor , Mr. Tender's trusty assistant Mrs. Storm is just that. She is the cocktail waitress in the master's private bar that just won't shut up( no matter how much you want her to) as she rattles on and on with an excitement that can only be compared to insanity. Not all High Energy Characters have to move around, but if they are not showing this energy with their movement, they better show it with their tone of voice, emotions, and facial expressions.
After energy levels are established, then you are placed somewhere in the six various character archetype within a haunt. I like to refer to this list as The Double Trinity. Now, these classifications are not set in stone. Characters come in many different variations, but this is a general idea of where most of these characters fall.
The first part of The Double Trinity are your more method acting roles: Crazy, Creature, and Zombie. These are characters you can lose yourself in as you play them and tend to fall on the Low Dialogue/High Energy side of the spectrum. Little skill or training is needed to play these parts, but if you have the talent, you can definitely make these roles shine. Crazy characters can range from insane clowns, manic mental patients, batshit crazy chefs, or killer hillbillies. Creatures are more animalistic and may portray famous movie monsters such as the werewolf, mummy, mutant, or alien. Zombies...well, there are so many forms of a zombie that I'll have to make a post strictly about those, but you get the general idea. Just growl and aim for the brain with your groups.
The second half of The Double Trinity requires a more controlled and theatrical method to playing the characters. These are your Dramatic, Creepy, and Childlike roles. These characters fall mostly on the High Dialogue/Low Energy part of the spectrum. These roles require more training and discipline to pull off. Dramatic roles typically mean more speaking, such as the sexy, comedic, evil, or damsel in distress type of characters, but it can also mean less speaking and more emotion, like your victim and minion characters. Creepy characters are just that, creepy. They have to understand the space they are in as well as how their bodies move to create a creepy persona and atmosphere. This is the most technically challenging role, in my opinion (unless you're naturally creepy. Then...yay?). Then, there is Childlike. Most haunts will not hire children, but there is a certain skill needed to be an adult and play a Childlike character. This also requires an understanding of how your body moves as well as how your body appears. You can't cock your hip or sit like a man if you're playing a child, and because of these physical restrictions and constant mental notes this character type is in this half of The Double Trinity.
Even though these are my personal classifications based on what I've seen over the years, these are not a strictly followed guideline. Every haunt may have their own version of these types of roles, but I think this is a good starting place to get a general idea of how characters are casted and how to pick the best role for you to prepare for in the upcoming season. I'd love to hear if there were any roles or possible classifications I may have missed. Or, if you want to learn more about a specific role, classification, or anything else mentioned in this post, please feel free to message me, leave a comment, or let me know.
Stay scary and happy hauntings!
-Jaz
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