A Community of Creeps
Merging artist-created environments with a diverse range of performance styles, the Haunted Basement is an interactive experience focused on absurdist psychological horror.
As a nonprofit arts organization, the Haunted Basement is radically inclusive providing an array of year-round educational opportunities, group workshops, individual training, peer guidance and mentor ship.
It Started with a Rope
In the Autumn of 2006, an art gallery volunteer explored the nether region of the Soap Factory. They emerged with a lung full of filthy, spore-infested air and a fundraising idea: Send patrons into the labyrinthine basement of this historic Northeast Minneapolis building, armed with only a flickering flashlight and a rope to guide the way.
Through word-of-mouth, the tours became an immediate success and tickets sold out.
Ferocious Flourishing
The basement tours became a yearly tradition, mutating and growing each time. Artists and performers clamored to add their twisted imagination to its dark corridors. What emerged was the Haunted Basement.
Send in the Clowns
Within five years, the Haunted Basement earned the reputation as a premier “alternative” haunted attraction. Boasting artist-driven environments with psychological horrorscapes. A focus on performance, dance, professional clowning, improv and theatrical influences. It went beyond the usual horror tropes of vampires and chainsaws.
Beyond Halloween
In 2014, Noah Bremer and Live Action Set brought Dostoyevsky’s Crime & Punishment to the Soap Factory’s basement. This ambitious immersive theatre performance was in the spirit of the Haunted Basement. Its success showed audience hunger for the Haunted Basement experience outside October.
New Home, New Horrors
The Haunted Basement celebrated its ten-year anniversary in 2016, ending its first decade with a bang by declaring its independence. Moving into Building No. 9 of the old General Mills Research Facility in Northeast Minneapolis.
“We trudged through a lot of basements to find the right location,” Christopher Barton said. “When we viewed the dark corners, twists and turns in 2010 Hennepin’s basement space, it was love at first sight. We have options here we’ve never had before. The new digs are perfect for us – miserably, horribly perfect!”
Necropolis for Mall Enthusiast
Kicking off its 13th year of life, the Haunted Basement is moving into old Herbergers space in the Rosedale Shopping Center. Giving us more space to play than we've ever had before.
Special Thanks
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Our Staff
Walker Friend
Interim Executive Director
Walker Friend immersed himself into the Haunted Basement from the first night he acted. The following year he designed several of the environments, and last year he was asked to come on as Associate Director. Walker has had a passion for the arts his whole life and last year received his Bachelors in Graphic Design. He’s held various manager positions and runs a small business. He spends his free time working on his various design projects, collecting oddities, and eating his weight in nachos.
Becci O'Kane
Business Manager
Becci O’Kane has been involved with the Haunted Basement for 10 of the 12 years in existence; starting as a patron and then eventually becoming a core actor. While her educational background is in Accounting, Finance, and Project Management, being involved in the Arts is her passion. Outside of the Haunted Basement Becci is highly involved in the marching arts community. She is a current marching member of the world class drum and bugle corps Minnesota Brass for the past 14 years. She also is the Director of 2 high colorguard programs and a Co-Director of an independent Winterguard program. In her free time she loves to sit on the couch and watch TV or take her 2 small dogs to the dog park.
Rowan McKinney
Volunteer Coordinator
Rowan found the Haunted Basement through a fellow Art History student at the University of Minnesota. She had interned with a community of artists at the Katherine E. Nash Art Gallery. Intrigued by the Haunted Basement’s unique opportunities she joined the following season. She spent her first year learning to walk on three foot stilts. That was 2011 and she has returned each year since to volunteer, most recently in the costuming department distributing costumes before performances. It was in that role she found her interest in welcoming and engaging the newcomers.
CORE COMPANY MEMBERS
Updated February 2020
Lisa Colburn
Mike Deneen
Gail Estelle
Javier Gutierrez
Craig Kossen
Liam Lavandowska
Rowan Mckinney
Rachel Nielson
Paige Polinsky
Heather Jo Raiter
Mickaylee Shaughnessy
Guy DT
Logan Vice
Brian Watson-Jones
