Unexpected Productions (UP), Seattle's oldest improv theater, will present three Halloween-themed shows during the spooky season, which is right around the corner. Fans of Rocky Horror, Up in the Woods, and Edgar Allan Poe should look forward to attending one of these one-of-a-kind productions.
Jay Hitt, the managing director, told the SGN that "Poe Unexpected: Edgar Allan Poe Improvised" is a favorite the theater has been running for over a decade.
"It was super popular, so it graduated up to Fridays and Saturdays just last year," Hitt said. "As far as planning, we only do about four rehearsals to get into the mood of Poe, and the format of the show," during which, one of UP's improv performers will dress up as Poe while the other actors re-create scenes in his style without retelling his stories.
"It's all based on the audience's experiences, and they give us some dark stuff sometimes," Hitt said.
"Poe Unexpected" will run every Friday and Saturday from October 4 to October 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Another October-long production, "Up in the Woods: A Spooky Improv Comedy," will feature improvisers stranded in different areas, like an abandoned hospital or haunted house. Audience members choose an object to kick off the show, like a wooden stake or an odd doll, and then an aggressor, like a demon or vampire, to hunt those stranded on stage. Hitt described this production as a "slasher type."
"Up in the Woods" will run on Sundays (a first) from October 6 to October 27 at 7:00 p.m.
"We're trying a little experiment this year. We're doing a take of The Rocky Horror Picture Show," Hitt said. "It's going to be a big campy, musical horror show- This is the first time we're doing this one. We're very good. People, a lot of the times, don't believe we're improvising - they think it's scripted."
The "Rocky Horror Improv Show" will only run for three nights: October 19 and 26 at 11:30 p.m. and Halloween at 9:00 p.m.
For those who may be new to improv, Hitt recommends attending the Poe show, but all of the productions are never-before-seen - and will never be seen again, as they are created by audience suggestions the night of.
For more information visit https://www.unexpectedproductions.org
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