SOLD OUT! And one more chance...

What a year! SCARE for a CURE presents: BLOOD RITUAL is completely SOLD OUT! We are thrilled at the wonderful turnout to support SCARE for a CURE and the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas. Many thanks to our wonderful guests, and we're very sorry if you weren't able to get tickets. Please give our volunteers time to catch up on their sleep, then visit our web site again for stories, photos, and more from the haunt. And watch for us again next year, when we'll be doing our level best to make SCARE for a CURE's haunt even bigger and better!

If you were sorely disappointed to miss the haunt this year, and you're feeling very brave and energetic, there is one last unique opportunity for you to get an insider's view of the haunt. For the first time ever, we're sold out on Halloween night—but this is also historically an evening when we are short on extras, technicians, and other support volunteers. Volunteers with special skills—belly dancers, musicians, and other similar skills can also join our gypsy camp to help entertain guests waiting in our ticket area. If you're an energetic worker who can put in long hours fueled only by screams, sugar, and a worthy cause, come to the haunt site between 5 and 6 p.m. tonight and we'll find a job for you! But first, a word of warning from our director: "If they show up, we will put them to work. If they rubber-neck, we dunk them in bloody slime then leave them in the cold!"

Come out and play with us—we dare you!

Tips for Volunteers

1. Wear your oldest, grungiest clothes and good work shoes.
2. It might be cold. Really cold. Dress in layers!
3. Watch for parking attendants, and park where they direct you.
4. We'll provide snacks and drinks, but if you work best with special fuel (e.g. coffee, energy drinks, your favorite candy bar, etc.) then feel free to bring your own.
5. A small flashlight always comes in handy.
6. Be sure you sign a volunteer waiver before you get started. Someone will have these available near the costume and makeup trailers.
7. Be prepared to work late—we'll be at our places from 7 p.m. until the last group is out of the house.

Cleaning tips for SCARE guests

PHOTO: ROBIN McSHAFFRY

Red groups, this is for you! If you came out of BLOOD RITUAL covered with stage blood and slime—and we hope you did!—our resident Mad Scientist has provided some helpful hints for cleanup.

Blood Stains

Skin: Stage blood stains can be removed from skin but it may take some scrubbing. Apply cold cream, makeup remover, or olive oil and rub out the stain, then wash with soap and warm water.

Fabric: We suggest washing your clothing as soon as possible in hot water and your regular laundry detergent. Stains can be removed from suede or leather using leather cleaner or GoJo hand cleaner, but don't rub too hard or you'll pill up the finish.

Slime

A mild acid—like white vinegar or lemon juice—will remove slime from skin, hair, clothing, etc.

And to new guests... may we remind you not to wear your good clothes to BLOOD RITUAL? Adventuring is very dirty work!

Logistical notes for BLOOD RITUAL guests

SCARE for a CURE is thrilled with the amazing turnout for our event, BLOOD RITUAL! We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has bought tickets, and hope you're having a great time at the haunt. If you've already attended, we'd love to hear what you think!

We've been SO successful that we need to give you a few logistical tips—these will help us be more efficient, minimize your wait time, and help any wait you do have go by faster!

1. Buy your tickets online! We don't want anyone to be disappointed at the door and many time slots are selling out so space for walk-ups is quite limited. To make sure you get a ticket and to keep your wait time down, we strongly encourage you to reserve your slot ahead of time.
2. If you buy tickets after 3 p.m. on the day of your reservation, please print out your Paypal receipt or confirmation email and bring it with you to the Will Call window.
3. Plan to arrive 15-30 minutes early to allow time for parking and sign-in, but please don't arrive more then 30 minutes early. Parking space is limited and we have to get the guests ahead of you out of the parking lot to keep things moving.
4. We'll do our best to keep things moving, but we are an extreme haunt and occasionally circumstances beyond our control cause delays. Please be patient and we'll get you in as soon as we can. In the meantime, kick back, relax, and have some fun while you wait. We apologize for keeping you waiting and appreciate your understanding!
5. Once you've signed in, there are plenty of ways to have fun in the waiting area. We've got awesome SCARE for a CURE: BLOOD RITUAL t-shirts for sale, along with buttons, stickers, and other merchandise. There's also a concessions stand where you can purchase drinks and snacks, as well as vendors with hand-crafted products. Most nights we'll have face-painting and chair massage available too. (A word to the wise, though—the vendors take cash only!) So get comfortable and warm up by the fire, interact with some of the characters in our gypsy camp, wisit with your fellow adventurers, and check out what the vendors have to offer while you wait.

Thanks again for supporting our event and helping us raise funds for our wonderful charity partner, the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas!

Did you survive opening night?

SCARE for a CURE presents: BLOOD RITUAL got off to a great start Friday night! We're grateful to everyone who came out to enjoy the haunt, and we especially appreciate your patience as we got off to a bit of a late start. The show set a high bar for subsequent performances, and it will get even tighter and better with every run so if you haven't got your tickets now is the time to do so. Tickets are available online, and they're selling fast so reserve your slot!

SCARE for a CURE is a non-profit organization, built entirely with volunteer labor, and proceeds from ticket and merchandise sales go directly to the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas. When you come to our haunt and throw yourself into your role, you'll not only have a great time but you'll also help raise funds for this wonderful organization.

Your kind words as you waited for your ride back to the entrance after the event were music to our ears and we made sure to pass them along to the actors! Our all-volunteer cast and crew work very hard to make SCARE a success, so if you enjoyed your adventure please let us know in the comments!

Announcing Eeyore's and Batfest Raffle Winners!

Congratulations to Sam Operton Jr. and Gene Coranado! These two very lucky SCARE for a CURE supporters have each won a pair of tickets to SCARE for a CURE presents: BLOOD RITUAL.

To help raise funds for our 2009 production, we raffled off tickets at Eeyore’s Birthday Party and BatFest. If you didn't win tickets, you’ve still got a chance to see the fruits of our labors—tickets are available online for the evenings of October 23-25 and October 28-31. You’ll have a frightfully good time and help raise money for the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas!

VOLUNTEER CALL: Crunch time for build and need help on Run Nights

We are down to the last few days of building out the most fabulous interactive adventure for SCARE for a CURE, benefiting a special organization Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas (BCRC). I don't know about you, but I'm REALLY excited!! Here's what still needs to happen:

WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY/FRIDAY
The move/rain/illness has everyone working down to the wire, and we really need your HELP! Folks are onsite now building, painting, getting sets together 24/7. The build managers including Jarrett, Edwin, Matt, Paige, et al. are exhausted. We need folks to come out between 10 am and 10 pm to help—even just a couple hours will get us further to our goal of having the BEST interactive haunted adventure in Austin!

Dress comfortably in clothes that can get dirty, closed toes shoes, and bring a refillable water bottle. We have snacks and drinks available, and lunch and dinner are provided as well. Location 7400 Coldwater Canyon Drive is the location, and here is the MAP http://scareforacure.org/haunt/map.php

RUN NIGHTS start FRIDAY (includes Dress Rehearsal this Thursday)
We need TECHS to help with boo scares and very special effects, parking, comfort assistance, and other miscellaneous tasks. There is something for everyone. Recommended that you arrive by 6 pm for dinner and assignments. If you have a particular skill or area you'd like to work, please email volunteer@scareforacure.org

MAKEUP AND COSTUME VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION
If you have requested to help in this area, all makeup and costume volunteers are invited to come to the Bunker on Wednesday at 6 pm for an orientation and tour.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS
We need 2-3 volunteers to help with facepainting fundraiser and SXSW swag bag raffle this SATURDAY, 10/24 from 12 - 6 pm at the Ginger Man Austin's Oktoberfest Celebration at 301 Lavaca. You will be provided with food and drink (bring ID if over 21). Please contact our volunteer coordinator at volunteer@scareforacure.org if you can help, even if only for 3 hours.

HELP SELL TICKETS by telling all your friends, family, and co-workers about SCARE for a CURE Blood Ritual.

Thank you everyone for your time and support!

Thriller Dance record-breaking attempt to benefit SCARE for a CURE

On Saturday, October 24, participants in Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s Thrillerfest 2009 will attempt to set a new record for the most people dancing the Thriller choreography at the same time in the same location. We at SCARE for a CURE are also THRILLED to say that the event will benefit SCARE for a CURE in our own attempt to raise funds for Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas!

THRILLERFEST 2009: Thrill the World at Seaholm!
Saturday, October 24 at Seaholm Power Plant
Dance Lesson at 5pm
Dance Performance at 7:30pm
Dance Party after that!

Tickets are on sale now for just $15, and Thriller dance lessons are already underway in north and south Austin locations. For more details, check out the event page.

Last year's event set a new record when 881 people gathered for the Thrill the World celebration at the Long Center. But last month a new bar was set by the citizens of Mexico City, who shattered our record by having more than 13,000 people dancing in unison! Now 13,000 is going to be a tough number to beat, and Austin can't compete with Mexico City in terms of sheer population. But that doesn't mean we aren't going to give it our all this year!. Even if we don't set a new record, we'll still be dancing in unison with other Thrill the World participants in more than 50 countries across the globe, and we'll set a new World Record for that dance no matter what!

Please plan to come out for a GREAT time Saturday to support SCARE for a CURE and the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas. And while you're in the mood, why not buy tickets for SCARE for a CURE presents: BLOOD RITUAL that evening and make a THRILLING night of it?

On your mark, get set, SCREAM!

Opening night is October 23!

Our favorite time of the year is almost here, and eager volunteers have been scurrying to put the finishing touches on SCARE for a CURE's 2009 haunt, SCARE for a CURE presents: BLOOD RITUAL. You'll want to make a trip through BLOOD RITUAL part of your Halloween season—get your haunted house fix and help the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas at the same time!

BLOOD RITUAL is Austin's only extreme, full contact, interactive haunted house adventure—guaranteed to chill you to the depths of your soul! SCARE for a CURE is an Austin-based non-profit organization, and all net proceeds from this event will be donated to our charity partner. Get your scare on while supporting an organization that assists local women and their families navigate their way from a breast cancer diagnosis, through treatment and beyond.

Imagine a theater performance that takes place across 26 stages in 3-minute acts and includes audience participation, built entirely by volunteers and benefitting cancer charities. Put it all together and you have more than a haunted house—you have a fear-filled adventure worthy of its Britannia Manor and Haunted Trails roots! To learn more about our unique haunt, which this year returns to its roots in a new location right down the road from the original Britannia Manor, please visit our web site.

Remember, we're only running October 23-25 and October 28-31! Tickets are available online or at the door, but tickets are going fast. Don't take a chance on missing it#8212;get your tickets online right now!

Tickets available now for SCARE for a CURE’s 2009 Production of “Blood Ritual”

Tickets are now available for SCARE for a CURE’s Blood Ritual, a thrilling interactive haunt in Texas. Join a team of paranormal researchers and explore the mysteries and horrors of Dunstan Castle. Experience a twisted tale of demons, blood-lust, and a vampire's quest for world domination. Who has the courage and wits to save humanity?

The brave souls who dare enter may guarantee their admission by securely purchasing tickets online at www.scareforacure.org. Because of the limited number of tickets available along with the length and intensity of the experience, timed and dated tickets are recommended. Tickets are available at the web site with limited availability at the door of the haunt, which takes place at 7400 Coldwater Canyon Dr.

SCARE for a CURE offers three levels of scary experience for Blood Ritual: Regular admission, Red-level and Green-level tickets. SCARE for a CURE's haunted house is not recommended for children under 12. All performances (October 23-25 and 28-31) offer all experience levels for both the bravest and the faintest of heart.

Regular admission, priced at $20.00 per person provides amazing thrills and chills in a 30-40 minute fear-filled adventure. Guests are admitted in groups of 4-6 guests at a time, and should come prepared to crawl and get messy.

Red-level tickets, which are available for $25.00 per person, are for fearless individuals who wish to more actively participate in their haunted adventure. This intense experience is more physically challenging fun for individuals who want to be taken to the extreme. Red-level participants should dress appropriately and be prepared to crawl, run, and be “bloodied.”

For those not wanting the full-fledged SCARE adventure, Green-level status is available with regular admission at the gate. Green-level groups will have a static experience, similar to regular groups but toned down as much as possible, with less interaction and lower intensity. SCARE for a CURE is an Austin-based charitable organization benefitting local cancer-related charities, "one SCREAM at a time!" Each year we produce Austin's only extreme, full contact, interactive haunted adventure that is guaranteed to chill the depths of your soul. Guests can expect a full contact adventure as they are guided through. No two groups have the same experience, as the decisions and actions of each group affect the outcome. For more information, visit the SCARE for a CURE web site at www.scareforacure.org or contact media@scareforacure.org.

FX Quickie

Guts material test:

Vortex Bridge test:

FX / Lab Rats have been busy... too busy for good updates...

Extended Work Hours: Your help needed NOW!!

We only have 2 more weekends to get this thing built!!!

Due to the rain and ACL Fest we had a pretty low turnout this past weekend. Regardless, those that came out did an incredible job in getting things done.

If you are an actor or actress in this year’s Blood Ritual, we need you to come out and give us a few hours of labor or we will not be ready on Opening Night.

If you have been planning on coming out to help… this is the weekend to do it!

I can’t stress this enough… WE NEED HELP!

SCARE has always been a team effort and the team needs to come together. Please join us and become a part of the team.

Let’s not forget why we do this. The money we raise will directly help support hundreds of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. The Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas needs our help. We benefit a worthy cause and have a lot of FUN in the process.

Work Hours (7 days a week!):
Monday – Thursday, 6pm – 9pm or later (contact Paul at p_sicard@earthlink.net)
Friday, 4pm – 9pm or later
Saturday, 9am – 6pm or later
Sunday, 10am – 6pm

Location: 7400 Coldwater Canyon (off City Park Rd.)

If you have an artistic flair, contact our Art Director, David at dbessenhoffer@gmail.com and we'll put you to work helping with props and set dressing.

If you can sew or want to help with fundraising, contact SCARE Vice-President, Norma at njcrippen@austin.rr.com

Please check out the Volunteer Page here, the FAQ page for details, or email volunteer@scareforacure.org.

No matter what your skill is… we need you!

Blood of the Bean: A thrilling afternoon of horror literature and bloody good coffee

On October 17th several noted independent names in horror literature will gather in in the funky, dark confines of one of the coolest new coffee bars, Kick Butt Coffee, in Austin, Texas for an exciting afternoon of spine-tingling readings. From vampires and werewolves to demented serial killers, a cup of bloody wickedness will be provided to all who arrive.

From 2pm until 7pm, Gabrielle Faust, Steven E. Wedel, Lee Thomas, Byron Starr, Brian Moreland, Ethan Nahte, Kenneth M. Hoover and Joe McKinney will take the stage to read an assortment of work from short stories to excerpts from their published novels. All of the authors will also be on hand throughout the afternoon to sell and sign copies of their work.

In addition, SCARE for a CURE will be on hand with a few willing volunteers passing out information about Blood Ritual and how you can purchase tickets or volunteer at the event.

What better way to begin your spooky Halloween experience this year? If you are simply in search of a stellar cup of joe, Kick Butt Coffee has some of the best beans in the capital city and also offers a nicely stocked full bar if a martini is more your style. Kick Butt Coffee is located at 5775 Airport Blvd. For more information call 512.454.KICK.