Difference between revisions of "Strange Worlds"

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|Theater= [[The Hideout Theatre]]
|Theater= [[The Hideout Theatre]]
|Director = [[Jordan T. Maxwell]]
|Director = [[Jordan T. Maxwell]]
|Cast = {{Unbulleted list| [[Alexander Hilary]] | [[Andreas Fabis]] | [[Heidi Rogers]] | [[Jayme Ramsay]] | [[Jessica Arjet]] | [[Lacy Shawn]] | [[Madeline Malka]] | [[Marc Majcher]] | [[Peter Rogers]] | [[Ryan Austin]]}}
|Cast = {{Unbulleted list| [[Alexander Hilary]] | [[Andreas Fabis]] | [[Heidi Rogers]] | [[Jayme Ramsay]] | [[Jessica Arjet]] | [[Lacy Shawn]] | [[Pseudonyms|Madeline M.]] | [[Marc Majcher]] | [[Peter Rogers]] | [[Ryan Austin]]}}
|Tech = {{Unbulleted list
| [[Cindy Page]]
| [[Chad Wellington]]
| [[Michael Yew]]}}
|Run = Mar/Apr 2013
|Run = Mar/Apr 2013
}}
}}


''Strange Worlds'' is a mainstage show at [[The Hideout Theatre]].
[[Image:Strange Worlds Heroes Drawing.jpg|thumb|alt=A drawing of the cast of heroes from _Strange Worlds_.|A drawing by [[Ryan Austin]] of the cast of heroes from ''Strange Worlds''.]]
 
 
'''''Strange Worlds''''' was a mainstage show at [[The Hideout Theatre]] based on 30s [[wikipedia:Pulp magazine|pulp adventure]].


==Summary==
==Summary==
The show is an improvised serial anthology based in the tropes of [[wikipedia:Pulp magazine|the pulps]] of the 30s and 40s.  The cast developed hero characters in rehearsals, and each performance featured two adventures, each featuring one of those heroes, and an shorter interstitial story ("Strange Times") that followed a reporter and cop as they investigated the blowback from those stories.
The show was an improvised serial anthology based in the tropes of [[wikipedia:Pulp magazine|the pulps]] of the 30s and 40s.  The cast developed hero characters in rehearsals, and each performance featured two adventures, each featuring one of those heroes, and an shorter interstitial story ("Strange Times") that followed a reporter and cop as they investigated the blowback from those stories.
 
The technical improvisors for the show are [[Cindy Page]], [[Chad Wellington]], and [[Michael Yew]].


The technical improvisors for the show are [[Cindy Ward]], [[Chad Wellington]], and [[Michael Yew]].
== History ==
Here is [[Jordan T. Maxwell]]'s explanation of the name's origin:<blockquote>I got turned on to the pulps after reading the first issue of Planetary, the last line (and pseudo-motto) of which is "Strange world. Let's keep it that way." When I was trying to think of something that sounded like the title of an old pulp anthology, those first two words were just right. </blockquote>


==Characters==
==Characters==
* '''The Beacon''' ([[Marc Majcher]]) is a stage magician and debunker named Rick White, cursed by gypsies to attract supernatural forces at all times.
* '''The Beacon''' ([[Marc Majcher]]) is a stage magician and debunker named Rick White, cursed to attract supernatural forces at all times.
* '''Jack Ryder of Neptune''' ([[Ryan Austin]]) is an American sailor who, while returning home from the war, is sucked into a wormhole that deposits him on the fantastical planet of Neptune (known to its natives as Shano).
* '''Jack Ryder of Neptune''' ([[Ryan Austin]]) is an American sailor who, while returning home from the war, is sucked into a wormhole that deposits him on the fantastical planet of Neptune (known to its natives as Shano).
* '''Simon Doyle''' ([[Peter Rogers]]) AKA "Codename: Sleuth" is a brilliant British agent who was thrown out of SIS because of his ceaseless pursuit of a shadowy international cabal known only as "The Spiderweb".  He now lives in the United States, tracking the group's agents and zeroing in on its sinister purpose.
* '''Simon Doyle''' ([[Peter Rogers]]) AKA "Codename: Sleuth" is a brilliant British agent who was thrown out of SIS because of his ceaseless pursuit of a shadowy international cabal known only as "The Spiderweb".  He now lives in the United States, tracking the group's agents and zeroing in on its sinister purpose.
* '''Dr. Lily Wilde''' ([[Madeline Malka]]), jungle professor, is an anthropologist raised in the jungles of the Amazon.  With her ready fists and her keen scientific insights, she fights all of the enemies of the natural world and its denizens.
* '''Dr. Lily Wilde''' ([[Pseudonyms|Madeline M.]]), jungle professor, is an anthropologist raised in the jungles of the Amazon.  With her ready fists and her keen scientific insights, she fights all of the enemies of the natural world and its denizens.
* '''Maxine Maker''' ([[Jessica Arjet]]) is a clever gadgeteer who uses her inventions to fight mad scientists, giant robots, and the like, in a world that's often biased against female engineers.
* '''Maxine Maker''' ([[Jessica Arjet]]) is a clever gadgeteer who uses her inventions to fight mad scientists, giant robots, and the like, in a world that's often biased against female engineers.
* '''The Grey Bishop''' ([[Andreas Fabis]]) is Martin Van Sant, a Dutch bookshop owner and chess enthusiast who, in his spare time, dons a domino mask and matches wits against master criminals as "The Grey Bishop".  His morally ambiguous crimefighting methods often leave a body count, and he has a penchant for leaving chess pieces with his victims: pawns for minor henchmen, perhaps a bishop for a higher lieutenant, and so on.
* '''The Grey Bishop''' ([[Andreas Fabis]]) is Martin Van Sant, a Dutch bookshop owner and chess enthusiast who, in his spare time, dons a domino mask and matches wits against master criminals as "The Grey Bishop".  His morally ambiguous crimefighting methods often leave a body count, and he has a penchant for leaving chess pieces with his victims: pawns for minor henchmen, perhaps a bishop for a higher lieutenant, and so on.
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** [[Strange Times: The Pendant]]
** [[Strange Times: The Pendant]]
** [[Bellwether Blue Versus the Shadow Asps]]
** [[Bellwether Blue Versus the Shadow Asps]]
* Episode 3 (3/16/13):
* Episode 3 (3/23/13):
** [[Jack Ryder and the Temples of Neptune]]
** [[Jack Ryder and the Temples of Neptune]]
** [[Strange Times: The Trident]]
** [[The Peregrine and the Web of Youth]]
* Episode 4 (3/30/13):
** [[Lily Wilde Versus the Ravenous Cats]]
** [[Strange Times: The Tattoo]]
** [[Codename: Sleuth and the Case of the Assassin's Sting]]


==Media==
==Media==
* Episode 1 (3/2/13): [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.504091772987677.1073741827.221927764537414&type=3 photos].
=== Main Run ===
* Episode 2 (3/9/13): [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.515181085212079.1073741839.221927764537414&type=3 photos], [http://vimeo.com/62740963 video (The Beacon)].
* Episode 1 (3/2/13):
* Episode 3 (3/16/13): [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.516857461711108.1073741843.221927764537414&type=3 photos].
** [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.504091772987677.1073741827.221927764537414&type=3 Photoset] by [[Steve Rogers]].
** Videos by [[Ryan Austin]] (with editing by [[Peter Rogers]]):
*** [http://vimeo.com/64240670 Maxine Maker and the Scintillating Confabulator!]
*** [http://vimeo.com/64283087 Strange Times: The Body.]
*** [http://vimeo.com/64216657 The Grey Bishop in "The Ruby and the Tiger".]
* Episode 2 (3/9/13):
** [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.515181085212079.1073741839.221927764537414&type=3 Photoset] by [[Steve Rogers]].
** Videos by [[Ryan Austin]] (with editing by [[Peter Rogers]]):
*** [http://vimeo.com/64279539 The Beacon and the Dancing Skeleton.]
**** [http://vimeo.com/62740963 (Unedited version of the show.)]
*** [http://vimeo.com/64307521 Strange Times: The Pendant.]
*** [http://vimeo.com/64279538 Bellwether Blue Versus the Shadow Asps.]
* Episode 3 (3/23/13):
** [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.516857461711108.1073741843.221927764537414&type=3 Photoset] by [[Steve Rogers]].
** Videos by [[Ryan Austin]] (with editing by [[Peter Rogers]]):
*** [http://vimeo.com/64577633 Jack Ryder and the Temples of Neptune.]
*** [http://vimeo.com/65341953 Strange Times: The Trident.]
*** [http://vimeo.com/64498551 The Peregrine and the Web of Youth.]
* Episode 4 (3/30/13):
** [http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/28941754_bJ4Bsx#!i=2460013495&k=KfRHW5c Photoset] by [[Jon Bolden]].
** Videos by [[Ryan Austin]] (with editing by [[Peter Rogers]]):
*** [http://vimeo.com/64577634 Lily Wilde Versus the Ravenous Cats.]
*** [http://vimeo.com/66177022 Strange Times: The Tattoo.]
*** [http://vimeo.com/64478922 Codename: Sleuth and the Case of the Assassin's Sting.]
* Episode 5 (4/6/13):
** [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.558248124196687.1073741832.100000345135257&type=3 Photoset] by [[Claudio Fox]].
** Videos by [[Ryan Austin]] (with editing by [[Peter Rogers]]):
*** [http://vimeo.com/65959433 The Beacon and the Enchanted Mirror.]
*** [http://vimeo.com/66134872 Strange Times: The Tunnels.]
*** [http://vimeo.com/65423075 The Peregrine and the Tempest Equation.]
* Episode 6 (4/13/13):
** [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.524634750933379.1073741856.221927764537414&type=1 Photoset] by [[Steve Rogers]].
** Videos by [[Ryan Austin]] (with editing by [[Peter Rogers]]):
*** [http://vimeo.com/66225436 Codename: Sleuth and the Case of the Fractured Wing.]
*** [http://vimeo.com/66271683 Strange Times: The President.]
*** [http://vimeo.com/66259424 Maxine Maker and the Sumptuous Nanoreciprocator!]
* Episode 7 (4/20/13):
** [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.528599867203534.1073741860.221927764537414&type=3 Photoset] by [[Steve Rogers]].
** Videos by [[Ryan Austin]] (with editing by [[Peter Rogers]]):
*** [http://vimeo.com/66226023 Lily Wilde and the Orchid of Death.]
*** [http://vimeo.com/66177068 Strange Times: The Supplies.]
*** [http://vimeo.com/66271684 The Grey Bishop in "The Queen's Gambit".]
* Episode 8 (4/27/13):
** [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151361640900793.1073741841.666390792&type=3 Photoset] by [[Dave Alley]].
** Videos by [[Ryan Austin]] (with editing by [[Peter Rogers]]):
*** [http://vimeo.com/66294097 Worlds Collide, Chapter 1: The Twilight of Neptune.]
*** [http://vimeo.com/66134873 Strange Times: The Invasion.]
*** [http://vimeo.com/66306441 Worlds Collide, Chapter 2: The Tomb of Heartbreak.]
* [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4671818636191.1073741831.1315383518&type=3 Photoset] of the cast party by [[Michael Yew]].
* [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151697102622265.1073741825.588952264&type=1 A photoset of video title cards] by [[Peter Rogers]] (from photos by [[Jon Bolden]]).
 
=== Post-Run ===
* "Shaken Not Stirred" Party (5/1/13):
** [http://vimeo.com/66324632 Video of Codename: Sleuth and the Case of the Diamonds in the Rough.]
* "NerdProv" (5/3/13):
** [http://vimeo.com/67667122 Video of the Grey Bishop in "The Sicilian Defense".]
* The New York Unscripted Festival (5/31/13 and 6/2/13):
** [http://vimeo.com/67689241 Video of The Beacon and the Soul of the Wizard.]
** [http://vimeo.com/67697488 Video of Codename: Sleuth and the Case of the Laughing Cascade.]
** [http://vimeo.com/67702032 Video of Bellwether Blue versus the Vermin Young.]
** [http://vimeo.com/67706793 Video of the Grey Bishop in "The Exchange Variation".]
** [http://www.facebook.com/michael.yew/media_set?set=a.4838455402006.1073741836.1315383518&type=3 Casual photos] by [[Michael Yew]].
* [http://www.facebook.com/warren.henderson.946/media_set?set=a.811216412242179.1073741867.100000614831752&type=3 Photoset] by [[Warren Henderson]] of a 3/27/14 fundraiser show for their trip to the Alaska State Improv Festival.
** [http://youtu.be/k07bu91F9H4 Video] by [[Warren Henderson]] of the same show.
* [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.715099225220263.1073741984.221927764537414&type=3 Photoset] by [[Steve Rogers]] of the 4/11/14 show at [[The 2014 Improvised Play Festival]].
* The Alaska State Improv Festival (4/25/14)
**[https://vimeo.com/93582286 Video of The Beacon and the Gravity of a Prism]
 
=== Other ===
* [http://kacibeeler.com/Kaci_Beeler/Artwork/Pages/Set_Design_files/Media/strange-worlds-set/strange-worlds-set.jpg?disposition=download Photo] of [[Kaci Beeler]]'s set design.


==More Information==
==More Information==
* [http://forum.austinimprov.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4898&p=41024 The 2007 'format manifesto' for an improvised pulp show] by [[Jordan T. Maxwell]].
* [http://www.hideouttheatre.com/ryan-austin-vs-the-perils-of-pulp "Ryan Austin Vs. The Perils of Pulp"]: a post from [[Ryan Austin]] about the rehearsal process.
* [http://www.hideouttheatre.com/ryan-austin-vs-the-perils-of-pulp "Ryan Austin Vs. The Perils of Pulp"]: a post from [[Ryan Austin]] about the rehearsal process.
* [http://yesandrew.com/2013/04/29/monday-morning-news/ Review of the closing-night show] by [[Andrew Buck]].
[[Category:Shows]]
[[Category:The Hideout Theatre]]

Latest revision as of 16:54, 23 February 2021


A drawing of the cast of heroes from _Strange Worlds_.
A drawing by Ryan Austin of the cast of heroes from Strange Worlds.


Strange Worlds was a mainstage show at The Hideout Theatre based on 30s pulp adventure.

Summary

The show was an improvised serial anthology based in the tropes of the pulps of the 30s and 40s. The cast developed hero characters in rehearsals, and each performance featured two adventures, each featuring one of those heroes, and an shorter interstitial story ("Strange Times") that followed a reporter and cop as they investigated the blowback from those stories.

The technical improvisors for the show are Cindy Page, Chad Wellington, and Michael Yew.

History

Here is Jordan T. Maxwell's explanation of the name's origin:

I got turned on to the pulps after reading the first issue of Planetary, the last line (and pseudo-motto) of which is "Strange world. Let's keep it that way." When I was trying to think of something that sounded like the title of an old pulp anthology, those first two words were just right.

Characters

  • The Beacon (Marc Majcher) is a stage magician and debunker named Rick White, cursed to attract supernatural forces at all times.
  • Jack Ryder of Neptune (Ryan Austin) is an American sailor who, while returning home from the war, is sucked into a wormhole that deposits him on the fantastical planet of Neptune (known to its natives as Shano).
  • Simon Doyle (Peter Rogers) AKA "Codename: Sleuth" is a brilliant British agent who was thrown out of SIS because of his ceaseless pursuit of a shadowy international cabal known only as "The Spiderweb". He now lives in the United States, tracking the group's agents and zeroing in on its sinister purpose.
  • Dr. Lily Wilde (Madeline M.), jungle professor, is an anthropologist raised in the jungles of the Amazon. With her ready fists and her keen scientific insights, she fights all of the enemies of the natural world and its denizens.
  • Maxine Maker (Jessica Arjet) is a clever gadgeteer who uses her inventions to fight mad scientists, giant robots, and the like, in a world that's often biased against female engineers.
  • The Grey Bishop (Andreas Fabis) is Martin Van Sant, a Dutch bookshop owner and chess enthusiast who, in his spare time, dons a domino mask and matches wits against master criminals as "The Grey Bishop". His morally ambiguous crimefighting methods often leave a body count, and he has a penchant for leaving chess pieces with his victims: pawns for minor henchmen, perhaps a bishop for a higher lieutenant, and so on.
  • The Peregrine (Lacy Shawn) is Annie Peregrine, a street urchin who moonlights as the city's most feared cat burglar (and occasionally dons the guise of high-society girl Anna Margaret Volare). She targets the corrupt rich, and commits her crimes with the help of a slingshot with a variety of useful pellets, and Hawkimedes, a particularly well-trained hawk.
  • Bellwether Blue (Jayme Ramsay) is an ace pilot, the daughter of a great (and deceased) war hero. She flies with her two "Liberty Aces", Tank (Alexander Hilary) and Spunk (Marc Majcher), and often fights fascists intent on world domination.

The Protagonists of Strange Times

  • Morgan McNulty (Heidi Rogers) is a city cop with a penchant for violence. She's been suspended from active duty at least once for this.
  • Nate Jester (Alexander Hilary) is a former war reporter who now covers oddball, freak occurrences for the city paper.

Show Summaries

Media

Main Run

Post-Run

Other

More Information