By Annalise Shupe
The Monster Bash Haunted House has helped me immensely in many aspects of my life. Primarily, it funded the last Fillmore Central Music Department trip I went on as I’m an active member in both the choir and band at FCHS. The last trip was in 2016 to St. Louis, Mo., I am also going on the 2018 trip to Los Angeles, Calif. Without the Monster Bash it would have been a struggle for my family to fund both myself and my siblings to go on these trips.
I am also a huge theatre geek. I participate in both competitive One Act and Spring Play and Musical at FCHS. Acting in the Monster Bash haunted house furthers my acting skills quite a bit. It allows me to practice different kinds of acting, especially improvisation. When you are put in a circumstance that your audience can respond and interact with you as an actor, it really tests your abilities. Working in the Monster Bash haunted house gives me a challenge, and I love it.
My family and I have been active in the Monster Bash haunted house since it was created six years ago. We have contributed with both the building and decorating of the haunted house along with acting in the haunted house each year. The past two years I have had more substantial acting roles in the haunted house. Last year my family ran the lounge in the haunted hotel, Hotel of Horrors, and I was the waitress. This year I was the court jester in the haunted castle, Sinister Stronghold, greeting each guest as I was the first person they saw. I absolutely loved each role that I played the past two years and I am grateful for the opportunity I was given to work in these positions.
The Monster Bash haunted house had its most successful year in its history this year. The haunted house broke a customer record and a profit record. This year more than 1,500 people went through the haunted house, helping create a record-breaking profit of $17,000. It overjoys me that the Monster Bash did well this year for the mere fact that it will be able to help so many families with sending their children on amazing trips; trips that will further the individual’s life experiences. On top of trips, money will also be put straight into the departments to help fund their needs.
Another great accomplishment of the Monster Bash haunted house was being ranked the fourth best haunted house in Minnesota by www.minnesotahauntedhouses.com last year. The rankings are not yet determined for this year. The three haunted houses that beat the Monster Bash are based out of the Twin Cities and the actors are professionals in these facilities.
Monster Bash Inc. was created October 25, 2016, and celebrated its one-year birthday a few weeks ago. Monster Bash Inc. was created to help manage the charitable aspects of the Monster Bash haunted house and is planning to run many more events than just the annual haunted house. These events will be held to raise even more money for the art departments at Fillmore Central High School. One possible event is an escape room that would open sometime in 2018.
There are so many wonderful people who work hard throughout the year to help the students in our community through the Monster Bash. The main contributor to this is Jay Masters, the true mastermind behind the Monster Bash haunted house. I couldn’t thank him enough for the work he does that supports students like myself. People like Jay use their abilities to impact people’s lives in a positive way, and that’s what makes the world a better place.
Even though my years of working in the Monster Bash haunted house may be over, I’m excited for its future. I’m especially excited to come back over the years and support the Monster Bash, helping out students that are in the same boat I am in now.
Annalise Shupe is a student at Fillmore Central High School. She is one of seven area students participating in the Journal Writing Project, now in its 19th year.
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