Rorschach Theatre: American Apparitions

Rorschach Theatre is a spunky, local theater company whose works for 25 years have often featured themes that are spooky and fantastical. They have mounted stage productions ranging from Toxic Avenger: The Musical to a delightful twist on Beauty & the Beast. Naturally, I’m a fan.

During the COVID lockdown, they conceived a brilliant idea to stay alive: Psychogeographies. If you can’t go to the theater, well, let the theater take you on adventures around town. Each month, subscribers receive a package and a map that lets them go to a location -- at a time of their choosing -- where examining the rest of the package unfolds a bit of a multi-chapter story.  After a few months, a whole new world has been opened. It was such a success that they have continued with new stories and are now in the 6th season. Grace and I have been on board for them all.

Two seasons ago, the story involved cryptids and a possible abduction. They even wove the National Capital Area Skeptics into the storyline! Other seasons involved time travel and even warping between worlds in a multiverse.

We just completed the first chapter of this season called American Apparitions. It is all about ghost hunting around DC. Our initial package included an investigator’s handbook from the “Red Room Society,” complete with suggestions for free ghost hunting apps to download. The map took us to the MLK Jr Library, Chinatown, and even down an alley behind Ford’s Theatre where we tried to record ghostly images and voices. It was a hoot!

It struck us that other skeptics might enjoy this as much as we do. Although chapters 2 and 3 are about to be released, it’s actually easy to join in late since the whole thing is done on your own schedule. They even provide online videos for those who want to “remote view” rather than venture out in person.

Saturday afternoon, July 11, is a special live Ghost Party event. It’s billed as a fundraiser for the company, with drinks, a paranormal scavenger hunt, and dessert. It is a stand-alone event, but thematically tied to American Apparitions. Subscribers get a free ticket. Grace and I share one subscription and just bought a single guest ticket with a subscriber discount for the party.

We would love to meet up with NCAS members for the party or any of the monthly adventures. I hope you will join us.

--Chip Denman

https://rorschachtheatre.com/american-apparitions/

https://rorschachtheatre.com/ghost-party/

Coming April 20 and April 25

Cryptocurrency.
Are you skeptical because you know too little? Or because you know too much? Either way...

EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU FOR MONEY is a documentary that asks a sobering question: Who benefits from the chaos, and who is left to clean up the damage?

NCAS exclusive interview with filmmaker Ben McKenzie:
https://youtu.be/J9cW5gylKpE?si=dJAVXaPdtVcHet-K
For more information on the film, or for showings in other cities, please see www.everyoneislying.com.

Join NCAS members at the AFI Silver in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, for special screenings on April 20 at 6:45 and April 25 at 6:15, both with Q&A with Ben McKenzie. Tickets are available in advance: https://silver.afi.com/movies/detail/0100005537/

Anchored by the stunningly restored 1938 Silver Theatre, the three-screen AFI Silver Theatre is a state-of-the-art film and digital media exhibition venue, which serves as a national model for preserving and honoring our shared film and filmgoing heritage. 

8633 Colesville Road

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Optionally, meet for a 5:00 PM pre-show dinner and good company:

Monday, April 20, Copper Canyon Grill

Saturday, April 25, J. Hollinger's Waterman's Chophouse

Please sign up here if you will be joining us so we can make a dinner reservation. Note: This is for dinner only; you are responsible for getting your own show tickets.

Thoughts on the way to the Moon

Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman (proud son of Baltimore, Maryland) took this photo of Earth after the crew put their ship on course for the Moon.

Except for a slight sliver of sunlight at upper left, the only illumination of Earth is from the full Moon behind the photographer.

Venus is at upper left.

[Artemis II pilot Victor Glover]
"... I think these observances are important, and as we are so far from Earth and looking back at, you know, the beauty of Creation.  I think, for me, one of the really important personal perspectives that I have up here is, I can really see Earth as one thing.  And you know, when I read the Bible, and I look at all of the amazing things that were done for us, who were created, it’s…you, you have this amazing place…this spaceship.  You guys are talking to us because we’re in a spaceship really far from Earth.  But you’re on a spaceship called Earth that was created to give us a place to live in the universe, in the cosmos.  Maybe the distance we are from you makes you think what we’re doing is special.  But we’re the same distance from you, and I’m trying to tell you, just trust me, you are special.  In all of this emptiness, this is a whole bunch of nothing; this thing we call the universe, you have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist together.  I think as we go into Easter Sunday thinking about, you know, all the cultures all around the world, whether you celebrate it or not, whether you believe in God or not, um, this is an opportunity to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing in that we’ve got to get through this together."

Coming Thursday, April 9

A Duality in Mission Regarding UAPs:
the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)

Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick

AARO was a Congressionally mandated organization with two missions: 1. organize, streamline, collate, and investigate current reports of military and government sightings of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), and 2. Investigate the US Government's historical works and associated whistleblower accounts regarding UAP/UFO. This presentation will discuss the establishment of the office, the investigations into the allegations, and the associated findings and conclusions.

Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick is an American laser and materials physicist who served as the first director of the United States Department of Defense's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office. Kirkpatrick is also an adjunct assistant professor of physics at the University of Georgia.

Thursday, April 9, 2026
7:00 -- 9:00PM
Center for Naval Analyses
3003 Washington Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22201
Room 214 MPR

Near Clarendon Metro
There is also paid parking under the building.

IMPORTANT:
The presentation is free, but all attendees must register by April 6.

Please use the form below to register: