Name: People Like To Be Scared: An Exploration of Fear
Start: 2025-10-03T19:30:00-04:00
End: 2025-10-03T21:30:00-04:00
Location: Arts Academy of NH

Cue Zero Theatre Company proudly announces the premiere of its bold, original production, People Like To Be Scared: An Exploration of Fear. This devised theatrical experience, created collaboratively by the Cue Zero ensemble under the direction of Dan Pelletier, will run October 3–5, 2025, at the Arts Academy of New Hampshire in Salem.
What are we afraid of—and why do we seek out that fear? People Like To Be Scared takes audiences on a thrilling, immersive ride through the psychology of terror, blending reality competition, dark comedy, and high-stakes spectacle. The show transforms the stage into the set of a fictional reality show where “contestants” face escalating challenges, testing their limits and ours. It’s interactive. It’s unsettling. It’s entertainment… or is it something more?
Through techniques including Viewpoints, Theatre of the Oppressed, classical improvisation, and much more, Pelletier led this group of eleven actors as they created this new play together as an ensemble. “We started with wanting to build a new show around fear, and eventually came to an essential dramatic question of ‘how does fear drive a need for control?’ and all our artistic decisions came from that.” says Pelletier. “What’s great about making theatre this way is everyone has an incredibly high sense of ownership over the work. Every member of the cast and crew contributes to the script, and there isn’t a single piece you can point to and say it was all one person. It’s truly the most collaborative approach possible, and the results are something magical.” This is Pelletier’s second time creating a work for CZT using such methods, previously directing 2023’s Join, which explored how and why people get caught up in cults.
This production does contain heavy horror and adult elements. Viewer discretion is advised.
People Like To Be Scared runs Oct 3-5 at Arts Academy of New Hampshire - 19 Keewaydin Drive, #4, Salem. Tickets are $20 plus fees per person online or at the door.
ABOUT CUE ZERO THEATRE COMPANY: Cue Zero Theatre Company is dedicated to cultivating and showcasing new works, young directors/designers and rising actors. Founded in December 2013, the mission of Cue Zero Theatre Company is to support young talented artists on a professional level, who need a venue to showcase their work. With our emphasis placed on professionals in the early phases of their careers, all of our projects are focused on growing as artists and people. Cue Zero sets high standards for all projects; we treat every member of the team with the respect and courtesy due to any working professional. All we ask in return is that they go above and beyond the normal call of duty to ensure productions are top-notch.
The award winning Cue Zero Theatre Company is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
We would like to thank all of our members and sponsors for their support. With a special thank you to our benefactor members Cassandra Durand and Lori Pelletier, as well as the Arts Academy of New Hampshire. For more information about the company and our upcoming productions, please check out CZTheatre.com.
ABOUT THE ARTS ACADEMY: The Arts Academy of New Hampshire, a chartered public high school, is dedicated to fostering creative thinkers, active citizens, and independent learners through a curriculum that seamlessly integrates the arts and academics.We cater to a diverse range of students who seek to uncover the joy and transformative power of the arts, as well as those aspiring to pursue artistic endeavors in a professional context. Our commitment to the arts is complemented by academic courses that instill a genuine and enduring desire for lifelong learning.