Fictional First Dates

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Written by Mallory Vance and Megan Markham, Fictional First Dates is a musical Parody presented by Phoenix Tears Productions, at Dragonfly Studio 129 (133 W Mckey St., Ocoee, Florida 34761) about dating using a digital app called Sparkle. Songs were used from other shows with the lyrics changed to advance the story. Carson (Chan Sterling) was a writer who had an assignment to write an article about Sparkle the new digital dating app. He was friends with Piper (Megan Markham) who worked in a coffee shop. The coffee bar in the corner of the set was fully functioning and Pam ordered us drinks for the show. I needed a hot drink to battle my chronic cough. I had sketched this show before, and wanted to see how it had evolved over time.

Tyrion Lannister (Skylar Keck) found out about Carson’s new mission to  go on dates, and he introduced him to the appeal of one night stands. Skylar’s singing prowess stood out in this show. He did an amazing job staying true to his character. Each date Carson went on was with a female hero from pop culture. He dated Jean (Bella Swan) from Xmen, Daphne (Leanna Bailey) from Scooby Doo Faith (Olivia Roman) from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and more.

The funniest date came when Carson’s date spoke at a rapid fire pace never giving him a chance to get a word in. The date was over before he knew what hit him. The blind hopes and dreams of each meeting made for some fun encounters. Not all the singers hit the notes just right but the fun playful aspect of the show allowed for some off key registers. I had a blast.

I unwrapped about 10 cough drops before the show started and sipped some hot coffee to keep my cough at bay. Laughing unfortunately triggers my cough sometimes and that happened in the middle of the show. I started coughing so uncontrollably I had to run out into the street so I didn’t interrupt the show. Once I regained my composure I slipped back inside. I managed to stifle my cough through the end of the show.

Ralph Richardson famously said, “The art of acting consists in keeping people from coughing.”

Fictional First Dates runs through April 14, 2019. 

Tickets are $12 online and $15 at the door. 

Death Day Players.

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Sunshine (Mallory Vance) of Phoenix Tears Productions, invited me to a dress rehearsal with an audience in Davenport Florida which is just west of Kissimmee. The Death Day Players offered an evening of fun and exciting interactive theater.  This acting troupe of ghosts  travels around performing the
night of their death for living audiences. Audience members are invited
to interact with the players as they take on characters from the Ghost
of the Evening’s death. For those just wishing to be onlookers, the
amount of interaction is up to you. In my case, I quietly sketched the entire time. Miss Clara White (Michelle Jacqueline Papaycik) asked me about the digital tablet I was using to sketch. I explained that it was like drawing on paper, but the paper was behind glass. Being from the Edwardian era, she didn’t understand. She gently poked the surface to feel the paper’s surface and left quite confused.

The evening was a Valentines Part in Clara White’s honor. Each ghost in the cast was from a different era. Sunshine was a flower child from the 60s. She spun under the ceiling fan in the center of the room enjoying her the way her dress billowed. Ghost Lord Ernest Bray was played by a modern day ghost with a leather jacket (Logan Blake). On slender woman in a black pants suit looked like she was from the 80s. An argument erupted between her and Lord Bray in the middle of the party. Everyone in the room listened. In this production, the audience is as much a part of the action as the cast. I would have discovered more about the story had I interacted and asked questions of each of the ghosts.

Clara’s story takes place in England on the evening of Valentine’s Day
in 1907. Travel back to the Edwardian age of ragtime, horseless
carriages, and courtship as the cast recreates the evening of Lord Ernest
Bray’s (Logan Blake) Valentines Party. All of the rich young ladies around have been
invited to the party at the Bray Estate, Hensley Court, in hopes of
finding Ernest a wealthy wife to save the failing estate. Enjoy the
romance, courtships, and music as the events of the evening of Clara’s
death unfold before your eyes. Was it a scheming sister who wants their
inheritance for herself, a poorly treated maid, the very suitor vying
for her hand and money, or a scorned lover? The clues will be there for
you to find and decide for yourself who you think murdered Clara White.

 The show runs Saturday Feb. 10th at 7pm. For Tickets CLICK HERE. Tickets are $15 online and at the door, Or take advantage of our Valentine’s Special and buy two tickets for $20 online only.

Phoenix Tears Productions Presents Fictional First Dates.

Posted on by Thor

This original production written by Mallory Vance and Megan Markham,Fictional First Dates is a sixty minute musical that tells the story of Carson Devaraux and his search for a date to his sister’s wedding. With the help of his best friend Piper, a Batista,  and a little app called Sparkler, Carson goes on a series of dates with  pop culture characters from
Avatar Korra to Lavender Brown to Eowyn and many more who arrive at Cafe
Nirvana. Along the way he makes new friends and discovers that dating fictional crushes might not be all it’s cracked up to be. 

The rehearsal began with a musical number in which the
cast of 8 celebrated all the perfect women who could be found with the app. A sweet telephone bell sound announced when a perfect match had been found. The first date was hilarious, with a woman who talked so fast and was so scattered that Carson never got a word in before she bolted.  One musical number with the two bachelors reminded me of a Sondheim song.  The lyrics were so fun and endearing however that I had to applaud. I found is funny when it was noted that even a Marvel comics character would be challenged dating today.

Dates happened seated stage left or stage right and sometimes at both tables. Coffee seemed to be this shows elixir of love. It was entertaining and frightening to see how easy it was for the dates to crash and burn. The women ranged from sweet and high spirited  to a dangerous warrior princess. To me it seemed obvious that Carson’s best friend Piper was the perfect date, but their platonic relationship blew up in a rage. His fictional crushes kept him from seeing the importance of the friend he had come to rely on.

The play ends on an inspired high note with the entire cast singing on stage. Like seemed to attract like and the imagined was replaced by the real. I was laughing out loud through the whole show. The show has a very short run, so do at miss your chance to experience the comic dangers of dating from the safety of your theater seat.

Marshall Ellis Theatre 1300 La Quinta Dr #3, Orlando, FL 32809 

Remaining show times are:

Saturday January 21, 2017 from 7pm  to 8:30pm 

Sunday January 22, 2017 from 2pm to 3:30pm

Tickets 

49 Portraits at Gatlin Creative.

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On September 24th, the 49 portraits of Pulse victims were on display at Gatlin Creative (4940 South Orange Avenue Orlando FL) about a mile south of Pulse. I drove past the club to the opening. A new colorfull banner now covers the fence surrounding the club. I had just screened my short film, “Finger on the Pulse” at the Global Peace Film Festival. Vicki Nantz had allowed me to share the screen with her 18 minute documentary about her feelings after the Pulse tragedy. The screening was at The Gallery at Avalon Island which has a mini theater on the second floor. We held a talk back after the film that went on for over an hour. It seems everyone needed a forum to express the shock, horror and frustrations about how slow change can be. Vicki and her wife have faced open hatred for being lesbians. Someone actually threatened to kill them. Orlando is home to several well known hate groups. Since Pulse, Orlando has made a shift towards being more open and caring but there is still a long way to go. I was shocked to find myself sharing my thoughts and feelings openly in front of the audience. Both Vicki and I both broke down several times as we tried to express what drove us. Vicki invited down a psychologist to help us moderate. Mallory Vance was back a her parents place in the Mid-west and her description of her small town’s reaction, made it clear that the effects of the Pulse shooting are wide spread. Was the community conversation healing? I’m not sure, but I got to share thoughts that have haunted me, and the incredible love and support in the room was palpable.

As I arrived at the 49 Portraits opening, the sky to the west was ablaze in a gorgeous orange glow with huge billowing clouds. Tiffany Windsor was at the entrance collecting the $15 entrance fee. The 49 portraits filled the warehouse space perfectly in a single row hung clothes line style. The warm evening breeze kept the portraits fluttering as if they wanted to take flight. Channel 2 News was shooting footage for the evening news. I spoke to the reporter on camera and then invited another artist, Bob Hague to do the same. A Japanese TV station and UCF TV also showed up.

Cory James Connell age 21, was the first Pulse victim portrait I did. His parents Tara and James Connell came to the opening along with Cory’s grand parents and sisters. I got to meet the entire family and I’m humbled by their outward show of strength. Tara actually invited me to their home. As I worked on Cory’s portrait, a man looking over my shoulder had related details about the young man that brought him alive in my minds eye.  I am hoping that the Connell family will also share their memories.

People paused in front of sketches and took photos. I could see some getting choked up and wiping away tears. I wanted to meet them all, but also felt they deserved privacy. A young woman took me to the portrait of a dear friend, Luis Omar Occasion-Capo. This portrait was painted by Mitch Scott. She thanked me for helping keep his memory alive. I also got to meet Wilma and her son. Her son’s father, and her longtime best friend and salsa partner, Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado was drawn by Betsy Brabrandt. Xavier was the first portrait drawn by Betsy in about 25 years. She was a fashion illustrator in NYC, but when she moved to Orlando, her art took a back seat to raising a family. Wilma talked about how Xavier taught her everything she knows about Salsa dancing. She had never danced in heals but Xavier showed her how. She very well could have gone to Pulse that night but she was tired. How is it that the few artists in attendance got to meet the families of the person they drew. There really is some greater force at work.

The money raised from this showing of the portraits is going into framing the pieces.

When Shadows Fall Grand Opening.

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After experiencing life as a Penumbra citizen, there was a Champagne reception in the original wait in area. This was I believe the office of K.C. Alexander the found of this dystopian society. Objects around the office indicated he was an educated and well traveled man. Clues about his vision for a perfect world could be found among the books and piles of paper on his desk.

Each cast member was announced and they entered the party to applause. Many actors were hard to recognize in their Orlandoan fashions. Some of the actresses wore gowns and party dressed. This was a big night, deserving a celebration. After a champagne toast, the cars and press wandered through the maze of rooms finding plenty of opportunity to mingle or sit in intimate groups to talk. For the first time I explored every of ice and chamber. I had only experienced a fraction of the amazing and intricate rooms. Each setting had hints about the occupant and the society as a whole.

I got to speak to my co-conspirator, Mallory Vance for the first time outside the playful confine of the game. She had already experienced Penumbra five times. She was doing office work for her mom, and in exchange she asked for a multi pass to When Shadows Fall. I was very fortunate to have been assigned to work beside her, since she knew her way around a bit, and she got us out of a few tight spots. To me she seemed to fit into the imagined over perfectly. After wandering through every room, I am left wanting to know more.

The cast and roll playing citizens all posed for a group photo. I can barely be seen, an artist hidden in the shadows.

Penumbra, the Perfect Futuristic Society?

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When Shadows Fall is a groundbreaking first-person interactive experience that takes place in a 15,000 square foot maze of futuristic offices, labs, and a dark labyrinth. Mallory Vance and I were recruited by Daedalus (Joe Hall) to recover documents from the office of acting president Nickolai (Barry Wright). Documents we found hinted at a sordid affair with Odessa (Cassandre Heinrich). She had been a gold member of society, but she volunteered for experiments which scarred her for life and cast her as an unknown in the Labarinth. The relationship was abusive. Mallory hoped that if we kept the abusive relationship a secret, that Nikolai might one day repent and the couple could live happily ever after. She was a romantic at heart but ultimately an enabler.  Of course life never is that sweet and innocent. Besides, weren’t the only ones who knew this dark secret.

What had been described as the perfect society was less than perfect. Posters proclaimed that “After acclimation everyone has a place” and “Join our society towards good.” Our reward for joining the greater good was to be banished to the labyrinth for our anti-social behavior. Mallory was the most social of the new citizens, and of course I am an artist and therefor deserved be be part of the gold cast of society. As the unnamed, we had to give up our old name and embrace a new name, I became know as Odin and Mallory became Sarah.

In the end we all met in a public square where the true face of the society showed itself. Ideals were clouded by jealousy, rage and revenge. The misshapen underclass fought against their oppressors. Nathanael, the Minotaur (John Reid Adams) seemed the most tortured of the unnamed.  One of his prosthetic horns was broken off. His pained screams could often be heard in the halls. I clearly only experienced a fraction of the stories that could be unearthed. The experience left me yearning to learn more. One evening in Penumbra only begins to scratch the surface. You have to experience it for yourself.

When Shadows Fall

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I went to a media preview of “When Shadows Fall.” This groundbreaking interactive experience happens in a large innocuous warehouse south of Downtown Orlando. There is no signage on the building. A young woman in a black dress held her phone in front of her and spoke to it. I assumed she was skyping but she was actually recording a video blog. Inside was a waiting area where four clumps of press spoke amongst themselves. Ricky Brigante the producer and Technical Director welcomed me. I was issued a small bronze colored badge. It looked like a mechanical eye with sunlight radiating from behind it. It was attached to a note which read, “Welcome new Penumbra citizen! Please accept this symbol of our new society with my highest regards.” ~K.C. Alexander

One of my favorite early computer games was “Myst.” In that game, you wandered through a three dimensional world looking for clues about the now abandoned civilization. Penumbra offers all the mystery of “Myst” while being fully interactive. It is unlike anything I have experienced before. We entered the first fully functional, totally harmonious society in the history of mankind two at a time or, in my case, alone. I walked down a long dark narrow hallway approaching a woman who asked for my allegiance to the new society. I was directed to a series of glowing tablets on the wall. Here, new citizens are given their new roles in the society. I then had to wait for a office worker, Cain (Chris Brown), who was in charge of internal affairs and quality control. He interviewed me briefly. When he found out that I was a journalist and sketched, he seemed interested and advised me to keep me eyes open and report back if I found any, deviant behavior.

I was reunited with the group in a dark hallway. Then, Harlan (Brett Carson) began calling out names. I knew already knew that there were various classes in this society. Golds were intellectuals and artists, certainly that is where I belonged. Silvers were like the middle class, while bronzes were hard laborers and then there was another darker class, the nameless, that no one wanted to talk about. Harlan called out about five names and then he called for me. I met the woman in black, Mallory Vance, and we wondered what our new role in society might be. We were lead to an area near a large reinforced vault door. Harlan’s kind welcoming demeanor changed. He announced that our antisocial behavior had earned us a spot in Penumbra’s dark underbelly, the labyrinth. Dark sinister rooms were contained by iron bars. A red light blinked above the vault door. Harlan bolted the door closed as he left us behind. A large octagonal table offered a spot to rest and ask long-term residents questions. While they were all scarred and misshapen, the women were quite beautiful despite their scars.

Mallory and I were assigned to help Daedalus (Joe Hall), who was dressed in a dark leather trench coat with a sharp pointed collar. He had red scars on his face. He asked us if we would do anything to escape from the labyrinth. Mallory was all in. I hesitated, wondering if murder might be required. He asked us to help him mix a potion in his lab. The walls were burned as if there had been a chemical explosion. I warned Mallory, but she was already pouring the chemicals together in a flask. The mixture could be used to incapacitate someone and allow for our escape.

Mallory and I were each given armbands that made it look like we were under house arrest like Daedalus himself. We were then sent on a mission to recover documents from Nikolai’s office. Nikolai was an ambassador, the son of K.C. Alexander. After his father’s death, Nikolai took over control of Penumbra. Mallory and I rushed through the maze of hallways, and hid any time security came around. We hit the jackpot recovering plenty of aging documents from the office. I followed Mallory’s lead. She seemed to know her way around the hallways better than I. It was fun having a co-conspirator. A secret panel got us back to the labyrinth. We were looking for information about a citizens project but many of the document were love letters. When Daedalus asked about what we found, Mallory snatched up the love letters and hid them behind her back. She later gave these letters to Odessa (Cassandra Heinrich). Mallory is a romantic at heart, and she wanted the romance to remain private. Daedalus might have used the information to forward his own devious agenda. . .

Tickets to this first person experience are $45.95-$74.84.