“When a paranormal demonstration goes horribly wrong, dark forces are unleashed and the horror becomes all too real,” notes the live show’s description. The show is framed by the idea of a theater being haunted and characters from “Insidious” such as the Bride in Black, the Wheezing Man and the Red Face Demon will appear as connections to the Further, a murky place between heaven and hell.
The production, performed in 80 minutes, is led by Jeff Seal and Michael J. Sielaff, who respectively portray Specs and Tucker, the goofy paranormal investigators whose comic relief is a source of levity in the films. The duo is excited about the visuals and special effects that lure the audience.
Credit: TIMOTHY NORRIS
Credit: TIMOTHY NORRIS
“I’ll be zooming in on people and using as many visual cues with (my) camera,” Sielaff said. “I’ll be using real live feeds.”
“We’re also going out into the audience, bringing people onstage and backstage,” Seal said. “This show doesn’t just exist on the stage. It’s sort of in the whole theater space, basically. There are so many fun elements as well including magic illusion. Theaters are crucibles of strangeness as well. There have been many theaters that have their own ghost stories.”
The production is rooted in the “Insidious” brand which will appeal to die-hard devotees but you don’t have to be a fan of the franchise to enjoy the terror.
“Visually the world of ‘Insidious’ is filled with scary-looking entities interacting with each other or trying to get out of the Further, but even if you’re not familiar with ‘Insidious’ you’re still going to enjoy it because we’re going to bring you along,” Sielaff said. “We’re not going to expect you to know everything. And when it comes to horror, I think people like to be tricked a little bit and try to figure out how things work almost like a puzzle of sorts. And as for horror films that get your heart rate up, I would say ‘Insidious’ is in the top 5 of all time.”
Credit: TIMOTHY NORRIS
Credit: TIMOTHY NORRIS
“Carl Grose, who co-wrote the script, is a huge ‘Insidious’ and horror fan,” Seal said. “You can really tell in the script for this show that he’s taken elements from all of the ‘Insidious’ movies and also the ghost hunting and paranormal worlds. And as with all comedic duos, Specs and Tucker need each other. They bicker and quibble but complement each other. The audience cares about them because they can identify with them.”
Seal is a comedian and filmmaker based in New York City who notably graduated from the Clown Conservatory at the San Francisco Circus Center and studied Decroux-based corporeal mime at the Hippocampe Project in Paris. Sielaff, an actor based in Los Angeles, has appeared on such television shows as “Barry” and “The Mindy Project” in addition to numerous commercials. He’s also played a Zombie more than 20 times and has performed interactive horror with Delusion and LA Haunted Hayride.
Credit: TIMOTHY NORRIS
Credit: TIMOTHY NORRIS
The duo has enjoyed tapping into their extensive comedy and improv backgrounds in order to bring authenticity to the stage.
“There’s a lot of comedy in the show and comedy and horror are both about building and releasing tension,” Seal said. “Both experiences are better when you’re with a lot of people in the same place. If you really want to get scared or if you really want to laugh, you have to go into a theater with a group of strangers and be in a community with people. You’ll laugh more or get scared more when you’re with a group of people rather than just staring at a movie by yourself on a computer.”
“I hope people are open to the comedy as an expansion into the ‘Insidious’ world,” Sielaff said. “I hope people get scared and jump back in their seats.”
HOW TO GO
What: “Insidious: The Further You Fear”
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30
Where: Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St., Dayton
Cost: $46-$104
More info: 937-228-3630 or daytonlive.org
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