Difference between revisions of "The Black Vault"

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|Cast = {{Unbulleted list|[[Andreas Fabis]] | [[Brad Hawkins]] | [[Clay Towery]] | [[Emily Breedlove]] | [[Jay Michael]] | [[Jayme Ramsay]] | [[Jessica Arjet]] |  [[Justin Davis]] | [[Marc Majcher]] | [[Paul Normandin]] | [[Peter Rogers]] | [[Roy Janik]] | [[Ryan Hill]]}}
|Cast = {{Unbulleted list|[[Andreas Fabis]] | [[Brad Hawkins]] | [[Clay Towery]] | [[Emily Breedlove]] | [[Jay Michael]] | [[Jayme Ramsay]] | [[Jessica Arjet]] |  [[Justin Davis]] | [[Marc Majcher]] | [[Paul Normandin]] | [[Peter Rogers]] | [[Roy Janik]] | [[Ryan Hill]]}}
|Tech = {{Unbulleted list
|Tech = {{Unbulleted list
| [[Cindy Page]]
| [[Cindy Page]] (sound)
| [[Michael Yew]]
| [[Michael Yew]] (scoring)
| [[Neal Tibrewala]]}}
| [[Neal Tibrewala]] (lights)}}
|Theater = [[The Hideout Theatre]]
|Theater = [[The Hideout Theatre]]
|Run = Sep/Oct 2012
|Run = Sep/Oct 2012, Sep/Oct 2019
}}
}}


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== History ==
== History ==
=== Post-run Performances ===
After its mainstage run, there were a number of one-off shows:
After its mainstage run, there were a number of one-off shows:
* 12/6/12: "Lovecraft Secrets", a mash-up with ''[[Austin Secrets]]'' that played at ''[[The Free Fringe]]''.
* 12/6/12: "Lovecraft Secrets", a mash-up with ''[[Austin Secrets]]'' that played at ''[[The Free Fringe]]''.
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* 6/23/13: the show was hour 32 of [[The 44-Hour Improv Marathon]].
* 6/23/13: the show was hour 32 of [[The 44-Hour Improv Marathon]].
* 3/27/14: a double-bill with [[Strange Worlds]] as a fundraiser for both show's trip to the Alaska State Improv Festival.
* 3/27/14: a double-bill with [[Strange Worlds]] as a fundraiser for both show's trip to the Alaska State Improv Festival.
=== ''Tales from the Black Vault'' ===
In 2014, the cast began production on ''[http://blackvault.austinimprov.com Tales from the Black Vault]'', a podcast version of the show.  Plans were made for an eight-episode audiodrama anthology of improvised stories in the style of H. P. Lovecraft.  They recorded [http://soundcloud.com/blackvaultpodcast/tales-from-the-black-vault-the-harvest-festival a demo episode] at the director's home, and then launched [http://kickstarter.com/projects/majcher/tales-from-the-black-vault-a-lovecraft-radio-drama a kickstarter campaign] to raise funding to produce a whole season.  The kickstarter raised enough money to produce *two* seasons, with the first season premiering in mid-March of 2015.
=== The Black Vault 2019 ===
The Black Vault returned in 2019 at the Institution Theater with a new run of six shows, using the same basic format, with an entirely new cast.


==Media==
==Media==
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* [http://vimeo.com/69325354 Video] by [[Paul Normandin]] of their 6/23/13 performance in [[The 44-Hour Improv Marathon]].
* [http://vimeo.com/69325354 Video] by [[Paul Normandin]] of their 6/23/13 performance in [[The 44-Hour Improv Marathon]].
* [http://vimeo.com/76849825 Audio of the 10/11/13 performance], part of ''[[Mister Morbid's Moonlight Movie Mayhem Madness Massacre]]''.
* [http://vimeo.com/76849825 Audio of the 10/11/13 performance], part of ''[[Mister Morbid's Moonlight Movie Mayhem Madness Massacre]]''.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k07bu91F9H4&feature=youtu.be Video of the 3/27/14 performance] by [[Warren Henderson]].
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k07bu91F9H4#t=2678 Video of the 3/27/14 performance] by [[Warren Henderson]].
* [http://vimeo.com/114083493 Video] by [[Peter Rogers]] of the 12/7/14 performance of "Arkham Community Radio" in the ''[[2x4]]''.
* [http://vimeo.com/120012508 Video] by [[Peter Rogers]] of the 1/23/15 performance of "Arkham Community Radio" in ''[[The Free Fringe]]''.
* [http://vimeo.com/133006812 Video] of their 6/10/15 performance in [[The 46-Hour Improv Marathon]].


=== Photos ===
=== Photos ===
* [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.418383731558482.101763.221927764537414&type=3 Photoset] by [[Steve Rogers]] of the 9/8/12 performance.
* [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.418383731558482.101763.221927764537414&type=3 Photoset] by [[Steve Rogers]] of the 9/8/12 performance.
* [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.387896174612401.86555.118587218209966&type=3 Photoset] by [[Roy Moore]] of the 9/15/12 performance.
* [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.396822437053108.88995.118587218209966&type=3 Photoset] by [[Roy Moore]] of the 10/6/12 performance.
* [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.396822437053108.88995.118587218209966&type=3 Photoset] by [[Roy Moore]] of the 10/6/12 performance.
* [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.403247626410589.90509.118587218209966&type=3 Photoset] by [[Roy Moore]] of the 10/27/12 performance.
* [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.403247626410589.90509.118587218209966&type=3 Photoset] by [[Roy Moore]] of the 10/27/12 performance.
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* [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://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://cwcreations.smugmug.com/Improv-2014/Improvised-Play-Festival/Black-Vault/ Photoset] by [[Chad Wellington]] of their show in [[The 2014 Improvised Play Festival]].
* [http://cwcreations.smugmug.com/Improv-2014/Improvised-Play-Festival/Black-Vault/ Photoset] by [[Chad Wellington]] of their show in [[The 2014 Improvised Play Festival]].
* [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.712663832143464.1073741848.473177099425473&type=3 Photoset] by [[Chad Wellington]] of their 10/24/14 show with [[Mister Morbid]].
* [http://www.facebook.com/michael.yew/media_set?set=a.10203090924416751.1073741919.1315383518&type=3 Photoset] by [[Michael Yew]] of the 12/4/14 performance of "Arkham Community Radio" in ''[[The Free Fringe]]''.
* [http://www.facebook.com/michael.yew/media_set?set=a.10204872285069654.1073741966.1315383518&type=3 Photoset] by [[Michael Yew]] of a 9/15 cast visit to H. P. Lovecraft's gravesite in Providence, Rhode Island.


=== Other ===
=== Other ===
* [http://kacibeeler.com/Kaci_Beeler/Artwork/Pages/Set_Design_files/Media/black-vault-set-painting/black-vault-set-painting.jpg?disposition=download Photo] of [[Kaci Beeler]]'s set design.
* [http://kacibeeler.com/Kaci_Beeler/Artwork/Pages/Set_Design_files/Media/black-vault-set-painting/black-vault-set-painting.jpg?disposition=download Photo] of [[Kaci Beeler]]'s set design.
* ''Tales from the Black Vault'' media:
** [http://soundcloud.com/blackvaultpodcast/tales-from-the-black-vault-the-harvest-festival The podcast's demo episode.]
** [http://vimeo.com/110104860 Promo video] for ''[[The Free Fringe]]''.
** [http://vimeo.com/110448368 Promo video] for [http://kickstarter.com/projects/majcher/tales-from-the-black-vault-a-lovecraft-radio-drama the kickstarter campaign].
** Short cast interviews:
*** [http://vimeo.com/112034604 Interview] with [[Paul Normandin]].
*** [http://vimeo.com/112034692 Interview] with [[Jayme Ramsay]].
*** [http://vimeo.com/112257992 Interview] with [[Justin Davis]].
*** [http://vimeo.com/112363296 Interview] with [[Andreas Fabis]].
*** [http://vimeo.com/112363297 Interview] with [[Marc Majcher]].


== More Information ==
== More Information ==
* [http://www.hideouttheatre.com/shows/theblackvault The show's web page.]
* [http://www.hideouttheatre.com/shows/theblackvault The show's web page.]
* [http://www.hideouttheatre.com/the-creeping-laughter A blog post] by [[Roy Janik]] about the rehearsal process.
* [http://www.hideouttheatre.com/the-creeping-laughter A blog post] by [[Roy Janik]] about the rehearsal process.
* "The Shadow Out of Austin", an abortive collaborative story by the cast from September 2012:
** [http://www.hideouttheatre.com/the-shadow-out-of-austin Chapter 1], by [[Roy Janik]].
** [http://www.hideouttheatre.com/the-shadow-out-of-austin-chapter-2 Chapter 2], by [[Jay Michael]].
* [http://traffic.libsyn.com/thetheftforum/The_Black_Vault_-_Main_Stage_Focus.mp3 Interview] with director [[Marc Majcher]] and cast members [[Jessica Arjet]], [[Ryan Hill]], and [[Paul Normandin]] on ''[[The Theft Forum]]''.
* [http://traffic.libsyn.com/thetheftforum/The_Black_Vault_-_Main_Stage_Focus.mp3 Interview] with director [[Marc Majcher]] and cast members [[Jessica Arjet]], [[Ryan Hill]], and [[Paul Normandin]] on ''[[The Theft Forum]]''.
* [http://blackvault.net/ Website for ''Tales from the Black Vault''].


=== Press ===
=== Press ===

Latest revision as of 16:28, 28 July 2020


The Black Vault was an improvised longform show performed in the style of the novels and stories of H.P. Lovecraft.

Format

Each show in the mainstage run was divided into three stories. A predetermined group of characters would begin on stage, establishing a framing sequence. Eventually, one of the characters would say a phrase which might constitute the title of a Lovecraftian story, and the title was taken up by one of the show's two predetermined main characters. That character would then narrate a story, stepping into and out of the scene as desired. At the conclusion of the story, the framing sequence would resume, until a second title ess announced, at which case the second narrator would begin his or her story. After that, the framing sequence resumed for a final time, at which point the frame itself became the third story and one (non-predetermined) character from the frame became the final narrator.

Style

The Black Vault stories were generally of three main styles:

  • Weird Horror—Tales of unnatural doings moored in such horror tropes as reanimation of the dead, infestation, mind control, or madness.
  • Dreamscape—Following the style of Lovecraft's "Dream Cycle," these stories focused on the inner life of the dreaming mind, usually with a fantasy or science fiction bent.
  • Cosmic Horror—As in the stories in Lovecraft's "Cthulhu Mythos," these stories focused on unknowable and largely unseen forces from beyond the stars, represented on Earth by mysterious cults and strange ancient artifacts.

History

Post-run Performances

After its mainstage run, there were a number of one-off shows:

Tales from the Black Vault

In 2014, the cast began production on Tales from the Black Vault, a podcast version of the show. Plans were made for an eight-episode audiodrama anthology of improvised stories in the style of H. P. Lovecraft. They recorded a demo episode at the director's home, and then launched a kickstarter campaign to raise funding to produce a whole season. The kickstarter raised enough money to produce *two* seasons, with the first season premiering in mid-March of 2015.

The Black Vault 2019

The Black Vault returned in 2019 at the Institution Theater with a new run of six shows, using the same basic format, with an entirely new cast.

Media

Videos

Photos

Other

More Information

Press