BUTLER TWP - Everyone knows the key to performing a believable horror play is the perfect, terrified scream.

Janet Leigh had it down in Alfred Hitchock's film version of "Psycho."

And Jamie Lee Curtis all but perfected the terrified scream in movies like "Halloween," "The Fog" and "Prom Night."

But 12-year-old Jared Wendling has yet to find his screaming voice, which is of concern to the young actor.

"I'm not good at screaming, and I'm supposed to be scared and scream in this play, and I don't know if I'll be able to do it," he said.

Wendling's fears were legitimate, as witnessed by advice offered from theater instructor Katy Wayne.

"Scream!" Wayne shouted. "They're wax and they're grabbing you! You should be scared . . . or maybe not."

The play is "Chamber of Horrors," and it was performed Friday afternoon by Wendling and 10 fellow actors as part of the Kids on Campus theater class offered this summer at Butler County Community College.

The play is about some teenagers who get trapped in a wax museum, only to find the wax figures come to life and try to kill them.

The play was performed with a shorter skit called "Caveman Blues."

Both were the culmination of what 12 students in grades six to 10 learned in the Kids on Campus theater camp, held June 21 through July 2 in BC3's Succop Theater.

Wayne, of Showcase Productions in Butler, said she takes the students through the basics of a production so they can do everything from acting to costumes to set design.

Wayne chose the play the students would perform, and said her decision was based on the fact she had six boys in the class.

"I picked something I knew would be enough of a challenge for them, but would be fun, too," she said. "And I kept in mind I had six boys in the class. Girls will talk more, while boys need to be active."

Wayne said some of the students have worked with her before, so the techniques she was teaching were not new to them.

But even the seasoned young actors needed some direction while rehearsing.

After watching a rehearsal on Tuesday, Wayne offered advice and words of encouragement to the actors.

"We're doing good," she told them, smiling. "It's not where we want it to be, but it's better than it was this morning."

Jonathan Standish, a 12-year-old in the class, said he likes acting, and it's why he decided to take the class.

"I like to be somebody I'm not," he said.

Eleven-year-old Scott Wilson said he wanted to learn how to do improvisation.

"I think it's fun to just make it up as you go along," Wilson said.

Matt Leslie, 13, said he's taken classes before with Wayne and he thought the Kids on Campus course would be fun, so he opted to take it.

Abbey Taylor, 13, said she's enjoyed plays since she was a child, thanks to her parents' encouragement, and she's always wanted to see what it would be like to act in one.

T

he students, whether or not they had prior acting experience, said they all learned something in the class.

"I learned improvisation and how to get a scene going just knowing the where, when and why," said 12-year-old Sean McDonald.

Jen Cherry, 11, said she learned that with improvisation, "you cannot say the word 'no' or the conversation dies."

Missi Lewis, 12, said she learned she has to become the person she's portraying to be an effective actor.

"You can't just say your lines on stage," she said. "You have to be your character . . . in order for it to make sense to the audience."

Aside from Wendling's fear of not being able to scream, some of his fellow performers had fears of their own.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to stand still," said 12-year-old Kyle Perschke, wiggling in his seat. "I'm an active person, and I'm supposed to be a wax figure standing still."

Kyla Gray, 12, shared Perschke's fear.

"I'm a wax figure, too, so I'm worried I'm going to sneeze or cough or something else," she said.

Angela Cherry, 12, said her fear is a classic among actors.

"I'm afraid of forgetting my lines, pausing really long or that my costume might tear or fall off or something," she said, giggling.

Other classes are being offered in July and August as part of the Kids on Campus program.

For a complete listing, call 724-287-8711, Ext. 404, or visit BC3's Web site at www.bc3.edu.