A demon peers out at visitors. Photo by Stacy Warden

Chicago, like any big city, is full of things to be afraid of: crime, rats, rush hour traffic.

Sometimes, it's on purpose.

At Chicago's Navy Pier, the third season of "Navy Fear " is a chance for student and professional actors to build their portfolios while scaring people and performing in one of several roles.

Those with a passion for vocals often audition for Ghostly Gardens, a child-oriented production featuring  a "Monster Bash" musical.

Ghostly Gardens characters aim to show younger children that Halloween is more fun than scary. The crew sings pop hits like I Want Candy, Love Potion Number 9, and Ghostbusters.

Danielle Deffasio, a Columbia College musical theater major, plays Dr. Shelly, mad scientist and Frankenstein creator.

"Even though I look really awkward, I don't sound wacky, so kids will approach me first," she said. Deffasio worked with Navy Pier's Dock Street Singers over the summer and was excited to audition for the Ghostly Gardens show.

"It feels really cool to be considered a professional actor," she said.

Student actor Sean Gorecki, who portrays the Frankenstein monster, was also enjoying the opportunity. "I love singing a capella and getting paid for it."

Deffasio said there's something for everyone at Navy Fear. "There's a lot of stuff for kids, but there are also things adults find funny that kids don't get," she said.

Delores Robinson, director of the Pier's public relations department, said people of all ages attend the event.  "We  have couples, adults and children," she said.

Robinson said Navy Fear is unique from other Chicago Halloween events because of its location on Lake Michigan.

"The things that have come from the depth of the lake are both haunting and exciting," she said.

Doug and Tina Klug look forward to bringing their young daughter to Ghostly Gardens each year. "The actors are very good and they have very elaborate costumes," said Tina Klug.

"The whole event is geared toward the non-frightening, which is hard to find," her husband said.

Deffasio said she encourages aspiring actors to audition for Navy Pier events. "If you love children and family entertainment, it's one of the best places to get started."

When she's not on stage at Ghostly Gardens, Deffasio does face painting. "If I have to make another pink and purple butterfly, I might cry," she said.

Actor Sunny G. Sampson spends his time on the scarier side at  "Demons of the Deep," the Pier's version of a haunted house. "I've never had an acting job where the purpose of my character was to scare people," he said. "It's very enjoyable."

Demons of the Deep features two levels of terror tolerance - mild or wild, where actors from JPM Productions Inc. portray a variety of ghouls. The Atlanta-based company, which specializes in both Halloween events and staged disasters for training emergency responders, holds three days of casting calls in Chicago.

Sarah Petermann, a JPM line producer, said actors are given an improv exercise in which they may be asked to tell the story of their death. "Some of them take time to prepare out in the hall, others are ready right away," she said.

Many members of the current cast are Navy Fear veterans who take time off from their day jobs to perform at the event, she said. "They plan their September and October around this."

Neither Petermann nor the actors contacted for this story would say how much the actors are paid, but Petermann said JPM actors are paid "above" minimum wage.

This is Sampson's first year working for JPM, after other unsuccessful attempts at previous Navy Pier events.

Once hired, Sampson said he was assigned a role and handed a costume; the rest was up to him. He described his character, George Ghousteau, as one of the few among the living. "He got trapped there [on the Pier] more years ago than he'd care to admit and so now he's a tamer. Without him," Sampson, said, "demons would be running the streets of Chicago."

Sampson said he wouldn't mind working with JPM in the future, "but if Spielberg calls, I'm going with him."

Navy Fear runs through Wednesday.

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