Fred R. Savana
phillyBurbs.com, August 2002
www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/81-06162003-108498.html
BRIDGETON - Now that he's one of three contestants remaining for the $1 million
recording contract, Justin Guarini must be feeling at least a bit frightened.It could be a foreign feeling for the "American Idol" singer, since he's used to being the one doling out the fear.
Last year, before his name was on the lips and in the hearts of many American teenage girls, Guarini was the director of the Riverside Haunted Woods' haunted hayride in Bridgeton in Upper Bucks.
His former employers will host an "American Idol" party tonight to watch their favorite rising star.
"Everyone from last year's haunted woods cast will be there; they all worked under Justin," said Pete Griffin, operator of Riverside Haunted Woods.
Tonight's show will be projected onto a 30-by-40-foot screen with surround sound. There will also be clips of Guarini reading the script from last year's haunted hayride and free passes to the haunted woods for anyone who can imitate his trademark curls.
The hayride also used to include a haunted house, but it was closed four years ago. It became Guarini's home for six months last year.
He lived there with Paul Griffin, Pete's 23-year-old brother. Guarini and Paul Griffin became friends in 10th grade at Central Bucks East, when both were in chorus.
"It's funny to think that only a year ago, Justin and I were slaving away six days a week, sometimes for 18 hours a day," Griffin said. "We'd cut down trees that fell in the path, straighten up the tractors, anything that needed to be done."
Griffin and Guarini were part of Midnight Voices, a male a cappella group that recorded an album several years ago. Guarini was their soloist.
"We sang when we wanted to serenade girls," Griffin said.
And there was no shortage of girls who wanted to swoon to Guarini's words.
"He had girlfriends in high school; some were serious," Griffin said.
Being on the brink of fame hasn't keep Guarini from his hometown friend who watched Eagles' games together.
"I talked to Justin (last week). He talked about where he'll go from here. He's very enthusiastic, but I think he's aware of the competition he's up against and he's a little fearful," Griffin said.
Pete and his wife Liz Griffin took over the Haunted Woods from Liz's father, Tom McBrien, former owner of Bucks County River Country.
"I remember telling (McBrien) that Justin is the best performer I'd ever seen," Pete Griffin said. Guarini sang at a Griffin family wedding and he had seen him at some school productions. "Justin was one of my biggest selling points to convince (McBrien) to let us take over."
From July 2001 through Halloween, Guarini helped build the sets for the 25 scenes that told the story of the haunted village of Eddy Woods and directed the actors who jumped out from dark corners.
Amy Ingalls, 17, of Milford, N.J., was one of the 50 actors Guarini oversaw.
"I loved working for him and I definitely had a crush on him," Ingalls said. "Every time I see him on stage now, I laugh because I remember him skipping through the woods dressed up as a psycho clown" in a haunted carnival scene.
It was while working for the Riverside Haunted Woods that Guarini started growing his curly, bushy locks.
"He was auditioning for 'The Lion King' on Broadway at the time, so maybe he was growing it out to fit the part," Pete Griffin speculated.
Though Justin was usually five minutes late to start his day, his boss said he seemed to make up for it by working that much harder during the day.
"(Hiring him) worked out great," Griffin said. "He was one of the best employees I had because he has a great energy and was always ready to work hard."
Griffin said the compliment he heard most about his haunted woods was how good the actors were.
"It shows how skilled Justin is," he said.
Guarini got "paid well" for his work at Riverside Haunted Woods, but he still sought extra cash, Griffin recalled.
"He and Brian (Wamsley, a sound technician) would go out to karaoke competitions in Bethlehem and Allentown. Some of them had $200 cash awards. Sometimes they didn't win and they'd come back mad ... because they didn't get the money," Griffin said, laughing.
When the workday was over, Guarini and the Griffins would use the recording equipment in the old haunted house to make demo tapes.
"Justin talked a lot about his ambition," Griffin said. "He knew he wanted to make it by singing. He said he felt talented. He never sounded like he wanted to be famous. He wanted to perform and make people happy when he did."
He described Guarini as a very polite and very tidy guy.
"He'd make his bed every day and guys don't normally do that," Griffin said, laughing. "It may seem like an act on television, but he really is very polite."