2008 Woodie Awards
Raycliff Manor houses 'Disney villan'
A behind the scenes look
Alexandra Nicolas
Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: Life
Amidst the half-costumed, fog from the airbrush and music blaring from a radio older than some of the actors, Myers adopts a corner of the makeup table with his own 1950s age-speckled lighted mirror.
Myers will wear a full-length black and red gown over his corset, faux breasts and hips though he said the transformation is not typical.
"I'm a dowdy, quiet, mousy little man," he said through pointed prosthetic teeth. Similar to a mouth guard, the teeth are fitted to the wearer and can be difficult to remove, as Myer found out on his first night wearing them.
"That was the scariest part of the evening," he said.
In addition to the outfit, he will wear a curly red wig, fake lashes and rim his eyes in black and blood red. Using liquid latex, stage make-up and paper napkin, sometime printed with Christmas snowflakes if it's the only thing available, Myer creates violent, bloody slashes across his 'breasts' and face.
"We call Matt our Disney villain," Allen said.
While Vestal and McCallister work specific rooms inside the haunt, Myer slinks around the carriage house entertaining customers waiting in line to walk through. 'Line entertainment' actors must establish customers willingness to be frightened, playing of expression, body language and nervous laughter along with making sure their overall appearance is thorough so as to maintain the illusion.
"It's better to do makeup in more light than you're seeing in," he said, "I'm in the light so it's important I look polished."
As the haunt prepares to open cars fill the parking lot and the fright team takes it's place.
Berrian smiles wickedly as young students buy their tickets and Myer transforms from 'a mousy little man,' into a sinister villain, slightly hunched, stalking patrons and asking if he can have their hair, 'when they're done with it.'
Myers will wear a full-length black and red gown over his corset, faux breasts and hips though he said the transformation is not typical.
"I'm a dowdy, quiet, mousy little man," he said through pointed prosthetic teeth. Similar to a mouth guard, the teeth are fitted to the wearer and can be difficult to remove, as Myer found out on his first night wearing them.
"That was the scariest part of the evening," he said.
In addition to the outfit, he will wear a curly red wig, fake lashes and rim his eyes in black and blood red. Using liquid latex, stage make-up and paper napkin, sometime printed with Christmas snowflakes if it's the only thing available, Myer creates violent, bloody slashes across his 'breasts' and face.
"We call Matt our Disney villain," Allen said.
While Vestal and McCallister work specific rooms inside the haunt, Myer slinks around the carriage house entertaining customers waiting in line to walk through. 'Line entertainment' actors must establish customers willingness to be frightened, playing of expression, body language and nervous laughter along with making sure their overall appearance is thorough so as to maintain the illusion.
"It's better to do makeup in more light than you're seeing in," he said, "I'm in the light so it's important I look polished."
As the haunt prepares to open cars fill the parking lot and the fright team takes it's place.
Berrian smiles wickedly as young students buy their tickets and Myer transforms from 'a mousy little man,' into a sinister villain, slightly hunched, stalking patrons and asking if he can have their hair, 'when they're done with it.'
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