Meet the Pittsburgher Who Stars in Peacock’s Hit Slasher Series ‘Crystal Lake’

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEACOCK

Joy Suprano is killin’ it.

The Pittsburgh native plays Rita in “Crystal Lake,” Peacock and A24’s TV series that’s a prequel to the “Friday the 13th” film franchise.

The eight-episode show debuted on Oct. 15 and drew more than 3.3 million views in its first 11 days of streaming.

Suprano, who grew up in Lower Burrell, admits she wasn’t a horror fan until she read Brad Caleb Kane’s “Crystal Lake” script.

Now she’s BFFs with Pamela Voorhees.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOY SUPRANO

“Rita jumped off the page at me,” she says. “Brad’s attention to detail and true passion for storytelling is so inspiring. It’s not just another horror show; this is an artistic creation.”

Set in and around a sleepaway camp in the 1970s, the series explores the origins of the murderous Mrs. Voorhees (Linda Cardellini) and her young son Jason (Callum Vinson). Suprano attended The Juilliard School in New York City with Cameron Scoggins, who portrays the bumbling Officer Dorf.

To prepare for her role as Rita, the self-confessed “scaredy cat” recalled her childhood camping experiences in Ohiopyle and watched 1980’s “Friday the 13th” in broad daylight with her husband by her side.

The couple’s 12-year-old son has only seen snippets of “Crystal Lake.”

Like the slasher flicks, each hour-long episode is a blood-soaked romp that relies heavily on practical effects by artist Dave Presto, instead of computer-generated carnage. Bloomfield resident Tom Savini, known in the film industry as the Godfather of Gore, did the makeup for the original movie as well as 1984’s “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter.”

Artist Jeremy Raymer painted a towering tribute to the Splatter King in Lawrenceville.

MURAL OF TOM SAVINI IN LAWRENCEVILLE / PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

Hollywood hasn’t closed the book on the Voorhees family just yet. Word around the campfire is there’s a second season of “Crystal Lake” in the works.

“I would love to see a season released every October,” Suprano says. “There are so many storylines to dive into.”

As much as she’s impressed by the creativity of the onscreen kills, she wants the spirited and stylish Rita to survive — even if it’s just to rock more amazing outfits. Costume Designer Cristina Spiridakis traveled around the country to find vintage pieces for the cast to wear, right down to their undergarments.

On Friday, Nov. 13, Suprano will take part in the Chiller Theater Shorts Block at Row House Hollywood in Dormont. The screening is part of the Three Rivers Film Festival, the oldest and largest annual film festival in the region. It runs Nov. 4-15.

Suprano is currently writing, directing and producing a coming-of-age film called “No Limits.”

It’s a title she can relate to.

As a teenager, she regularly performed at the Pittsburgh Musical Theater in the West End. Twelve days after graduating from high school, she headed to New York City to pursue an acting career. Since then, she’s appeared in “Fleishman Is in Trouble,” “Hightown,” “The Blacklist” and the Emmy Award-winning “Best Foot Forward.”

“Having that grit and determination solely comes from being raised in Pittsburgh,” she says.

Let’s hope she takes another stab at horror.