El Camino Union

Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: Ivan Santiago A bloody inmate of the Isolation Ward maze reaches through the cobwebs and prison bars to try and scare people walking by as he tries to grab them as part of the attraction for the Queen Mary.

Media Credit: Ivan Santiago Myra Penate, a freelance make-up artist, does make-up for Hector David, working as a clown in the Psychadelic Krazy Klown Maze, one of two mazes on the grounds surrounding the queen Mary. This weekend is the last weekend for the event.

Boasting five mazes and a dance club, the Queen Mary Shipwreck event promises thrills, chills and an all-around good time.
Going into its 15th year of operation, the Queen Mary Shipwreck event averages about 40,000 to 60,000 attendees seasonally.
The event runs through Halloween from 7 p.m. to midnight. Since undergoing new management, Shipwreck has expanded to include more mazes and new designs.
Matthew Gavin, known for designing sets for "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," has taken over set design for the event. There are five mazes in total, along with highly-detailed props and decorations to give the ship and surrounding areas a haunted feel.
The mazes on the ship are: Houses of Horrors, Isolation Ward and Blackbeard's Revenge. The mazes on land are the Vampire Village and the Psychedelic Krazy Klown Maze.
Freelance hair and make-up artists have been hired to do the hair and make-up of the monsters roaming the mazes and the grounds.
"We have to come up with characters that go with some of the mazes. Anything gross that comes to mind works," Myra Penate, freelance make-up artist, said.
More than 130 student actors from Cal State Long Beach are employed as the heavily made up and gore-spattered monsters this season.
"This is the first time that we have reached out to students to participate in this event," Erika Testo, marketing manager said.
Along with the mazes, the event also offers a walkthrough graveyard, tarot card and palm readers a costume shop and "Club Dead," complete with a live DJ. There are also numerous food booths that offer food and beverages with the purchase of food tickets at $1 each.
Testo said there is no age limit for this event, but it is not suggested for anyone age 12 and under to attend.
Admission prices are $29 for general admission, $40 for VIP fast passes and $69 for a season-long pass, and $99 for a VIP season-long pass. On Halloween, there will be a costume party with general admission prices at $29 and $40 for a VIP pass.

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