Review Fix Exclusive: Jay Michaels Talks ‘The Monster Seated Next to Me’

October 23, 2014 Patrick Hickey Jr. Theatre 0

Review Fix chats with Jay Michaels, co-producer of the event and director of “The Monster Seated Next to Me,” one of the entries in the evening of terror plays, “Things That Go Bump in the Night” at The Kraine Theater, 85 East 4th Street, NYC on Oct. 29, 30. Michaels has been a fan of the macabre since childhood. His favorite works in the theater are of this genre.

For more information on the show, click here.

Review Fix: What was the inspiration for the production?

Jay Michaels: Hammer Films and Greek Tragedy (how’s that for a juxtaposition!) There are no secrets in my play. The audience meets the two characters and, from the start, is aware of the outcome. It’s the journey that they relish. Hammer Films relied on atmosphere more than anything (even though they’re famous for more overt effects) I want the audience to enjoy the creepiness of my piece. And like the best of Greek tragedies – you know what’s going to happen. When and how… there’s the rub!

Review Fix: What things have influenced your creativity in terms of horror over the course of your life?

Michaels: The Masters of the Genre, Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, and Peter Cushing. These classically trained actors elevated the genre to an art-form. The aire of sophistication they gave to their monsters; the attention they – as actors – gave to these characters; and even the hint of private joke they shared with an audience (like “shhhhhh, don’t tell them I’m a monster”) is absolutely intoxicating. I met Peter Cushing decades ago and he was the most gracious man.

Review Fix: What makes your production different from the other ones featured?

Michaels: I do not plan on using any effects – no blood, fangs, scary lighting, etc… Let the terror come from within. Again like a Greek tragedy. You know the end…

Review Fix: How does it feel to be a part of the entire night?

Michaels: Glorious. I’m a devout horror aficionado. I’ve done horror movies, macabre plays, even eerie radio plays, so to bury myself in an entire night of it … it’s like being a kid again.

Review Fix: Who do you think will enjoy this production the most?

Michaels: Everyone. There are three vampire tales, two UFOs, a demon, a ghost story… each has a touch of Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, Tales from the Crypt… AND we have monster trivia raffles and contests with groovy vintage prizes from Joe Koch’s Warehouse of Wonder (www.kochcomics.com), five singing horror hosts. Something for everyone’s tastes.

Review Fix: How do you want your show to be remembered?

Michaels: As a conduit to the good old days. If our audience can walk out remembering their scariest movie experience or the time they meet some movie actor, or staying up late to watch Twilight Zone or Outer Limits then we’ve succeeded

Review Fix: What are your ultimate goals for your show?

Michaels: To fill every seat with folk ready to scream and laugh … and come back for more.

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 13870 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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