Interview by Jeff Hayes

This is the original 1999 interview with Jonathan Tiersten that took place after he was tracked down by Jeff Hayes. This is Jon's first ever "Sleepaway Camp" interview online. Of particular interest, it's fun to read the duo discussing the possibility of a sequel with "Ricky" returning which actually ended out happening 4 years later. This is where it all began.

Well fellow campers, a Sleepaway Camp fan's dreams came true on Saturday, May 22 1999 when me and a small group of fellow fans (including my girlfriend, my sister, and website frequenter Joe Canistro) went to Lee, Massachusetts to meet the one and only Jonathan Tiersten who played everyone's favorite cousin RICKY in the original slasher classic: Sleepaway Camp!!! A lot of fans have wondered what ever happened to "Ricky" and here you will find the answers as well as many tidbits of information about the cult phenomenon straight from the mouth of "Ricky" himself!! Let me start by telling you what Jonathan is up to these days. He is currently preforming in a Colorado based band called: BAMBI'S APARTMENT where he plays guitar and sings lead vocals along with a great bunch of guys.

They all performed wonderfully Saturday night and kept the crowd cheering for more! They have a brand new CD now available...and if you would like to hear Jonathan sing some really cool original tunes, You can order the Cd on their website: www.bambisapartment.com.

Now I know you are all wondering why Jonathan is currently doing music now and not acting...well as he puts it, "I got sick of the business!" Dont get him wrong, he still enjoys acting, but he just got sick of the business at the time...and in his mid 20's decided to move away from New York...and ended out in Colorado where he owned a bar for a few years and even recorded a solo album! Eventually he met up with Michael O'Neal and formed the band BAMBI'S APARTMENT. Jonathan is actually thinking about a return to acting and hopes that BAMBI'S APARTMENT is a stepping stone for it. He has a passion for both his music and acting...and is very good at both!! Now I know you are all wondering why Jonathan is currently doing music now and not acting...well as he puts it, "I got sick of the business!" Dont get him wrong, he still enjoys acting, but he just got sick of the business at the time...and in his mid 20's decided to move away from New York...

Johnathan Tiersten with his new band Bambi's Apartment

...and ended out in Colorado where he owned a bar for a few years and even recorded a solo album! Eventually he met up with Michael O'Neal and formed the band BAMBI'S APARTMENT. Jonathan is actually thinking about a return to acting and hopes that BAMBI'S APARTMENT is a stepping stone for it. He has a passion for both his music and acting...and is very good at both!!

A picture of Jonathan then, as Ricky, and now, after all these years!

Okay campers, let's go back to camp! The following interview will answer a lot of questions about what Jonathan remembers about his "FUN" experience making Sleepaway Camp and a lot of answers to questions that we have always wanted to know!!!! Enjoy!! JH: What was it like making Sleepaway? JT: It was like a giant Party. A really fun time. JH: Do you still talk to any of the cast members these days? JT: Chris Collet is pretty much the only one. JH: What is he doing now? JT: He still acts. Does a lot of Broadway plays. JH: What ever happened to director Robert Hiltzik?

JT:		I'm not sure. I think he made enough money off of Sleepaway Camp so that he didn't have to work any more.
JH:		What was he like?
JT:		He was really cool. When he showed me the script he said that he wanted to make the most twisted movie ever so to let him know if I had any other ideas...after I read the script I was like umm, I think you already did pretty much make the most twisted movie ever!
JH:		Rumors have surfaced that Robert may have been gay (because of the theme of the movie) and that he himself dressed in drag to play Aunt Martha??
JT:		No way! He was certainly not gay...he very much liked his women. And It was a WOMAN who played Aunt Martha...she was a weird lady in real life too!
JH:		What ever happened to Felissa Rose?
JT:		Not sure really. I think Sleepaway was the last movie she did.
JH:		Did you have a crush on any of the girls on the set?
JT:		Oh yeah. I had the biggest crush on Kathy Kahmi, the girl who played MEG.
JH:		Did she know it??
JT:		I think she knew.
JH:		Did you ever hook up with anyone on the set?
JT:		(laughs) I dont think I should get into that.
JH:		Do tell.
JT:		Well, some of the extras...