The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum advertises that its seasonal haunted house titled “Malice” is not for the faint of heart.

 

“In the halls of what once was the area’s most reputable hospital, a demented doctor has brought his patients’ nightmares to life,” the promotion reads. “Society’s undesirable souls have been abandoned in the dark recesses of this safe haven. Their sole purpose is to serve the good doctor and his sadistic experiments.”

 

Those who dared to enter the halls – where doctors, nurses and even clowns – scratched and clawed their way through their new existence encountered a number of creepy characters. Friday night, some of those characters were members of the Bridgeport High School Thespian Troupe.

 

Senior Noah Hall, Thespian Troupe president, said the experience was beneficial insofar as acting is concerned and that it compared with no other learning opportunity he has had through the student organization.

 

“It was a good experience. I would say it probably helped develop a character of being maniacal or villainous – and trying to scare people,” he said.

 

He admits that scaring people to the point of flight had his adrenaline running.  

 

“I asked if I could do something crazy and they let me do the spark cage,” he said. “There’s a metal rod connected to three or four car batteries and I’d strike the rod against the fence and sparks would fly onto people.”

 

His line, he said, was “A little shock therapy didn’t hurt anyone.”

 

This was Hall’s second appearance at the asylum at Halloween season. He said last year, a smaller representation of the troupe participated in the haunted house titled “Delirium.”

 

This year's Trans-Allegheny appearance was a first-time experience for sophomore Caroine Fulks. She said she enjoyed everything from the hair, makeup and costume session – courtesy of the professionals at Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum – to jumping out and scaring those who were brave enough to go through the haunted house.

 

“I had a lot of fun. It was like nothing I had ever done before and it was a really unique experience,” she said. “I had to scream and jump out at people, but some of the others had to laugh or cry.”

 

The haunted house encompasses three to four floors and takes about 30 minutes to go through, Hall said.

 

Located in Weston, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is the former Weston State Hospital. During the mid-1800s, the facility housed the mentally ill. In addition to the seasonal haunted house, the facility hosts tours, private and public ghost hunts and other activities. The haunted house is open through Oct. 31. 

 

For more information, visit the lunatic asylum's Web site HERE.

 

For their role in the haunted house, the BHS Thespian Troupe received a small stipend which will be used to participate in thespian festivals this school year, Hall said.

 

The Thespian Troupe is under the direction of Jared St. Martin Brown.