THE VOICE OF REASON
Myron A. Frasier
to Southfield
City Council
ON NOVEMBER 2, 1999
VOTE FOR EXPERIENCE
House Of Horrors
• 4 Years City Council
• 2 Years Planning Commission
• 39 Years Ameritech
Halloween actors portray scenes
of terror from pages of history.
SHELLI DORFMAN
StaffWriter
W
eak-kneed, with pound-
ing hearts, guests
screamed their way out of
a blackened Macomb
County exhibit filled with scenes
depicting the horrors of Jeffrey Dahmer,
Charles Manson and the Holocaust.
Not your typical Halloween haunt-
ed house, Terror Town is true to its
name. Visitors are terrified by a series
of performances featuring live actors
portraying short, graphic scenes from
historical-based horrors.
The theatrical production created
by Melissa Youngs-Misaros has caused
controversy with the inclusion of a
concentration camp setting, complete
with a Nazi guard shooting at an ema-
ciated-looking prisoner attempting to
climb a barbed-wire fence.
After receiving "at least four calls" of
objection to the display, a letter was sent
to Youngs-Misaros by Don Cohen,
director of the Anti-Defamation League
Michigan Region. In it, he registered "a
strong complaint" on behalf of the
ADL to those who "don't recognize the
gross exploitation of a human tragedy."
Youngs-Misaros says she will
respond, defending her right to offer a
mere "dramatization designed to elicit
shock, fear, awe and disgust, with no
attempt to offend."
To date, the Shelby Township
Police Department has received no
complaints. "It's all quiet this year. I
didn't even realize it was running,"
says Lt. Joe DeMeester.
Youngs-Misaros says the 32 actors,
who rehearse for a month and act in
full costume and makeup, do not
reflect personal opinions but are fol-
lowing her script.
What goes on in their rented space
in the Four Bears Water Park is "all an
act and not my life style," says
Youngs-Misaros. "I am an artist. I am
not biased. I am not judging."
In fact, she cuts across all lines at
Terror Town. The concentration camp
scene is followed by a "skinhead"
being electrocuted.
Still, some find the taped voice of
Adolf Hitler and the flag with the
swastika deeply disturbing. And others
say they are offended by perceived
anti-Semitic comments.
INVOLVEMENT:
• 1999 Winner UW/CS Heart of Gold
• 1997-99 President Southfield AARP
• 12 Years Karmanos Cancer Inst. Volunteer
ENDORSED BY:
Southfield attorney Byron Siegel says
a group of teens told him anti-Semitic
language was aimed at them during the
exhibit and that one was hit by a whip,
although she was not hurt. He argues
that Youngs-Misaros, who calls herself "a
huge advocate of free speech," has gone
one step beyond the First Amendment.
Jennifer Levine of Ferndale, a fre-
quent visitor to Terror Town, which
last year saw 25,000 guests at $10 a
person (now $12), performs as an
actress this year.
ON NOV. 2, 1999 USE ONE OF YOUR 4 • Senator Gary Peters
VOTES TO RE-ELECT MYRON A. FRASIER • Oakland County Political Action
Committee (OCPAC)
• Southfield-Lathrup Democratic Club
• Eric Coleman-Oakland County
Commissioner
23460 Brandywynne • Southfield Mi 48034
PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT
MYRON A. FRASIER
• Southfield Eccentric
248.352-6246
.,
.
"
"I am not biased. I
am not judging.
"
— Melissa Youngs-Misaros
Levine, who is Jewish, viewed the
scenes before accepting the job. She
says she is "not disturbed by the
camp" and knows "it is just there to
scare — its just acting."
She says all actors must sign an agree-
ment not to smoke, drink or deviate
from the script in any way. Youngs-
Misaros confirms this, adding the actors
are instructed "not to go closer than
arm's length from guests," a difficult task
in a dark room with narrow hallways.
Still, Douglas Burda, a Michigan
State University student and park visitor,
was upset when an actor playing a priest
told him he would burn in hell for his
sins, after a friend announced they were
Jewish. Youngs-Misaros says those are
words in the script, relayed to all guests,
and not a response to Burda.
Past Sierra Club
Head To Speak
Adam Werbach, 23, who made
headlines when he became the head
of the oldest and largest grass-roots
environmental group in the United
States in 1996, will speak at
Congregation Shir Tikvah on
Wednesday, Nov. 3.
The event will take place at 7:30 p.m.
at Congregation ShirTikvah, 3900
Northfield Parkway, Troy. The event is
open to the public and costs $5.
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10/29
1999