BoddaH1994

Thanks for the props, Eric. I actually found a copy of "Downbar, Recheck" on a disk a couple of months ago. lol

Yeah, this is when companies like P&G and GE have their own sellout days. It's almost better that they do it this way because well... could you imagine a ton of P&G employees in the park and having the GP on top of that? No one would be able to walk around. Only extremely large companies have their own days.

Recently the staff of PKI Central was given the opportunity to sit down with the nice in person, yet cruel in character, Katie Spearman-Lynch. Katie is better known as Doris from School of Rock. We got a chance to chat with her after one of the cast's fantastic performances in order to ask her about what it's like to be in such an amazing show. Here is what she had to say: Ryan: How long have you worked for PKI? Katie: This is my 5th year here and I have always worked in the entertainment department. Ryan: What's the best part about being a cast member of School of Rock? Katie: I really like being with the people that are in the show. They're really interesting. I'm used to working in shows where everybody is just a straight actor or dancer and in this show everyone is really dramatic and down to Earth. A lot of them are musicians, they're guys who are in a band. They don't come in here talking about their leotards or sprained ankles, we all melt together. Not that we don't sometimes get on each others nerves, which happens when you do a show together six days a week, but we're all down to Earth and get along pretty well. Ryan: Do you get the same thrill now, after having done the show for almost four months, that you did when it first opened? Katie: Sometimes. After several months, you start to get burnt out, but on those days when you have those audiences that are just roaring and "throwing their babies in the air," you can't help but think that this is a really really fun job. Ryan: How long does it take to prepare for a show like this? Katie: We started rehearsing about two weeks before the show opened, which doesn't seem like a lot of time. In any other community theatre or college production, you have about six weeks. We were here every night from about 5pm to 10pm. We would learn our lines one night, do music the next, and practices dancing another night. It gradually started to bring itself together in about two weeks. Ryan: It must have fallen together rather well, I saw the show the day it opened and it seemed flawless. Katie: Yeah, the stage was already set up when we came in. This is a very technical program with the music, lights, and everything. I don’t know how long it took them to get that set up. I know they've had many hours working on the set when the performers weren't even here. Ryan: What acting experience did you have before joining the entertainment department at PKI? Katie: I did theatre, dancing and voice lessons growing up and through high school. I was also a theatre major in college. I went to Xavier and did shows there. I figured this would be a really good summer gig and here I am. Ryan: Why don't you walk us through a typical day as Doris and tell us what that's like? Katie: I get to work an hour and a half before the first show. We have a company meeting in which the managers will tell us if there is anything new or different for the day. We warm up vocally and physically and the band comes out and does their warm up. Then we do a sound check with the microphones and make sure that they're working because occasionally we come out here and the speakers don't work, or the lights won't turn on, or there's no power. We do that at least a half hour before the show. Then of course we do our makeup, put our costumes on, and we have to be back in the wings fifteen minutes before the show. Ryan: When you're not working and are enjoying the park as a guest, what is your favorite thing to do here? Katie: My husband has a season pass, so sometimes we ride the rides and roller coasters or just enjoy the other shows. Ryan: Have you been in any other shows this year? Katie: I was in the Nickelodeon Celebration Parade, but besides that, just this show. Normally I fill in at other shows, but this year has been strictly School of Rock. Ryan: Should we expect to see you in any other shows this year? Maybe Fearfest or Winterfest? Katie: I'm a music teacher, so that really limits my availability, but sometimes I will come back for special events like the Adventures for Wish Kids Holiday Party. I hosted the karaoke for that. Currently I don't have time to do Fearfest or Winterfest, but who knows? Maybe one day I'll just give up teaching! But you can expect me back here for 2006. Ryan: Members of our community have compared your show to shows in such world-class parks as Disney World or Universal Studios. How do you react to that? Katie: I think it's great! I think that the entertainment department has been building and building every year and now we're to the point where people have very high expectations of our shows. This is a show that's totally different from anything that I've ever seen at a theme park anywhere. I really like how we have live musicians. We haven't had live musicians at this park in a really long time and I think it's great that we have brought that back. Ryan: What's the craziest moment you've had as a cast member of School of Rock? Katie: As Doris, I have to be a little mean, well not a little mean.. I am mean. One day I was checking the mics at the beginning of the show which one was intentionally messed up by the sound guy, and being in character, I start yelling at the sound guy telling him that he needs to get to work and he's going to loose his job.. things like that. Now, at the beginning, some people realize that this is just part of the show, but others really aren't sure, and this makes them a little nervous. I start heading back to the sound booth to yell at the sound guy, and this man stops me. He says, “I think you've been really rude to him and it's really inappropriate! I had thought maybe someone had put him up to it, so I didn't break character and said, “Yeah? Well maybe he should be doing his job!" He responds, “No really, I think it's really rude, and really unprofessional and you're embarrassing him in front of all of these people. At this point, I figured out that he was for real and I saw my manager walking towards him, I asked him if I could tell him, and he said I could, so I said, “Sir, I'm just acting" The man responds, “Wow, you're doing a really good job acting so mean! I respond, “Oh, well a teacher, so I just get into my teaching mode and kick some butt." Ryan: Speaking of you being a teacher, what advice would you give a young aspiring actor or actress that would like to one day do shows as you do here? Katie: I would say get into voice lesions if you can. Take part in any activities your school offers like choir or drama club. I took dance lesions and that was really the best experience I could have had. You come into these auditions and it can be really intimidating. Some people really know what they're doing and some don't. Even if you're not the greatest talent, just come in and try out so they'll know who you are the next year. Ryan: Do you have any final words, thoughts or comments that you would like to give to our community? Katie: I want to thank everyone for being such great sports and coming to our shows. I've never been in a show like this've never been in a show where you know there are going to be hundreds of people out there, even on a rainy nasty Wednesday afternoon. It's great to recognize people that you see come to the show several times. ------- School of Rock has been deemed by many to be one of the best shows that PKI has hosted in years. If you havenÃ't seen it yet, you're really missing out and you don't have much time left! Remember, the show will NOT be running until Labor Day weekend (the show will run Saturday through Monday) with various showings throughout the day, the last one being at 6:30pm. After having interviewed Katie, we had an in-depth conversation with Scott Hayward, the stage manager (the real one). He taught us several things about the technical side of the show, which were very interesting. Here are some paraphrased things that he taught us about the show: -The life of an actor in the entertainment department is far from easy. The actors and actresses in the department work six days a week while their show is open! It takes a very special type of person to have that type of commitment. -Ever wondered how the lights work? Well, it all relies on the drummer actually. He wears an earpiece, which has a clicking, noise that both keeps him on beat and in sync with the lighting. It quite literally gives him verbal commands as to when to actually start playing. -Speaking of the lights, they are run by a computer program that is linked into the audio that the drummer is hearing. -Yes, everything is 100% LIVE! -A crazy moment he experienced one time was when the show was just about to begin and the lights suddenly quit working. As the band began with the song “Cat Scratch Fever,†the streamers that were intended for the end of the show suddenly went off! Needless to say, that show had to be cancelled, but a quick reboot of the system and the set was ready for the next show. Hats off to the technical team for not flipping out on that one! -A ton of old props are still stored in the Paramount Theatre. Even some of the old Magic of the Movies props, like movie posters and the chromakey screen are still hung from the rafters! Click here for some photos. Click here for some close up photos of the set as well as several backstage photos of the Paramount Theatre. The staff of PKICentral would like to extend a very warm and sincere thank you to Maureen Kaiser for setting thing whole thing up for us, Scott Hayward for staying late into the night with us and showing us the ropes of the Paramount Theatre, and finally Mrs. Katie Spearman-Lynch for being such a good sport and letting us interview her. Thank you guys so much!! Ryan Suhr Media Director PKICentral.com – Where THE MAN has left the building.

To back up what Dane said, we were told that the fishtailing mechanism works by the car resting on some sort of rolling wheel and having springs to support it. Once the springs get loosened, you'll be able to feel the fishtailing, but until then it's time to use your imagination.. Now, you may be thinking of the electromagnetic sensors that trigger the different effects as the train passes by. That's what sets off the sounds as well as the animated effects.

It's a shame that the Casper franchise is too old to theme a dark ride to.

It's not so much that I don't like SDATHC, it's just that I think that it could have been done a lot better. The concept is great, having people shoot targets and the themeing reacts, but it's just not all there. There is just something to having those 3D animatronics that makes the experience so special. It's not like they had the wrong company do it... I mean, some of the stuff in the ride is fantastic (like the pipe organ player). I really think that PKI is to the point now where they are ready to do something great... we'll just have to wait and see.

True, but I really think that even some of the baby steps they've taken have made a great difference.

Although a lot of the show seems to be working, the lights on the door haven't matched up at all this season and the fog in the preshow is hit or miss.

Stricker's Grove does, and I tell you, we go to town when we can get into that park.

I'd choose the indoor Spongebob thing. Think of it this way: We'll know the route of PKI after this attraction. Either they'll put in a world-class heavily themed ride that can be enjoyed by all and take another step forward in their goal of being the Disney of the midwest, or they'll put in something lame that has the awe factor of SDATHC and take a great leap backwards.

Speaking of 2006, has anyone heard anything about an announcement? I honestly haven't heard any info.

This brings up a couple of points: I recall when it opened, when a train's launch was delayed for one reason or another, the next train to come into the station would be locked into the brakes right before the tunnel which returns the train to the station. It did ruin the themeing a little bit because a lot of times you could clearly hear the hiss of the brakes, and even sometimes you could see the corner of the train poking out of the darkness. Also, if yout want to talk about a good idea for a block system to run 3 trains, why not completely stop the train at the mid-course brakes? Maybe distract the riders with some sort of flashing light show (similar to when the goddess gets ****ed off on Tomb Raider) before sending the train through the 2nd half of the track? I know it's kind of out there, but you would have an added themed ride experience, it would lengthen the ride, and you may be able to run 3 trains if it's done correctly. Just my two cents. I too remember seeing sings and hearing announcements about removing any earings. The ride used to be a painful experience even without earings.

I too was at a very packed PKI today. Then again, I showed up at like 6, didn't ride anything, and stayed until after the park was closed. Could this mean that PKIC is brewing up something exclusive for you guys? Magic 8 Ball says "yes!".

Your political beleifs have nothing to do with what's coming in 2006. Any more problems with people making stupid political comments that have absolutely nothing to do with PKI will be banned. Regardless of which side you're on, don't EVER junk up my forums again or you'll be gone forever. Closing...

This bring up the question: do the parks follow eachother with Fearfest attractions as they seem to be doing with regular attractions now?

I think the GP would be pretty upset, but I don't think anyone would loose their life over it.

You've probably noticed that there are house lights on in the hanger too. It totally ruins the themeing in my opinion, but it's apparently for safety.

I'm not sure what the park's policy is as far as people calling locations directly, but I'm pretty certain it's a big no-no. I'd call the park at 800-288-0808 and ask to speak to a foods representative or something, because I doubt any of the employees will be able to surrender the direct connection.

It happens far more often than you think with a community of this size.

The "hint" has already been discussed, but here is the newsletter in its entirety. Source: PKI e-newsletter.

You're far more than likely correct. Paramount Parks signed a contract to extend their rights to, and only to, Scooby Doo.

I imagine that the employee who works the merger gets a lot of abuse with people accusing him of allowing his or her "friends" to cut in line.

You guys are seriously starting to bum me out.

I like too far away to work at PKI with the little amount of money they pay, but if I lived in Warren County somewhere, I'd work there regardless. I think park employees can sympathize with this a little more than most people, but when you have a job you really care about and you really like, money is on the back burner.

Elvira isn't scary but it is one HELL of a sim ride. It's one of the best I've seen at FX Theatre.