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
