Whisper Theatre Collective
The Mothman Cometh
written, designed, and performed by
Richie Schiraldi
Darkness.
We’ve been told to fear it. To hide from it. It’s where our monsters and demons reside.
The Mothman says otherwise: Darkness is a place of dreams, of love, of philosophy, of story and laughter. It’s a place to play; to escape the judgements that come in the daylight.
Our shadows are something to harness as our guiding light. With it, we can discover our true powers and reclaim ourselves.
Join the Mothman in this delightfully dark and interactive show where the audience will be led through a series of silly, cathartic, and playful rituals to rally together and embrace the darkness!
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Important Note:​
​Mothman might talk to you during the show. Fear not, it is a creature of comfort. Don’t feel pressured to share more than you are comfortable. If you do not want to engage in the moment, cross your hands over your chest instead of responding. It’s like garlic to a vampire, but more subtle.​
IG
DJ MoonMan
Playlist
Writer's Note
I wrote this show to call into existence the fact that we are all dealing with darkness, particularly the inner darknesses that our ego likes to isolate us on: loneliness, fear of the unknown, fear of expression, and anxiety over the things we cannot control - the things we convince ourselves that no one can relate to. I feel these things, and exploring this character has brought them to the surface. I imagine I’m not alone in this, so this show is ultimately about relating and building community around these scary and isolating feelings. I want to open the conversation, have a discussion in a creative way, and leave people feeling empowered, and perhaps with comfort..
On a personal note, this show is a search to find myself; an attempt to find my voice. It’s the thing I’m most shy about: speaking up, making statements and standing my ground. It’s also about discovering what I have to say artistically and getting comfortable with the power of my voice. So, I created a show and character where I can explore boldly and create an exciting space for the audience.
Behind the Glowing Red Eyes...
Richie Schiraldi is a Chicago-based physical theater performer, specializing in movement, physical comedy/clown, partner acrobatics, Cyr wheel, and stage combat. He has toured internationally with Broken Planet, Aura CuriAtlas, Whisper Theatre, as well as with other independent projects. He has also spent the last decade teaching physical theater, circus, and movement across the USA to all ages, and has been focused on integrating circus into theatrical storytelling performances.
Richie holds a BFA in Physical Theatre from Coastal Carolina University, in conjunction with Accademia del’Arte in Arezzo, Italy, as well as an MFA in Devised Performance Practice from Columbia College Chicago, in conjunction with Arthaus Berlin (formerly LISPA).
His latest artistic obsessions are dreams (always), the beings of the dark, and being authentically odd.
Feed Me Your Shadows...
From time to time, possessions happen. When the words cannot be better said than by someone else, Mothman may become a vessel for others and their words. Here are some spirits you may recognize:
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Salvador Dali
Chazz Palminteri
Jeanette Winterson
Marianne Williamson
Níall Ó Murchú
Bruce Dickinson
Britney Spears
Dave Grohl
Sia
Art Garfunkel
David After Dentist
Lady Gaga
Honkai: Star Rail
Blink 182
ABBA
Freddy Mercury
Jim Morrison
The Darkness
Bruce Springsteen
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Other Artistic Influences:
I Wear the Black Hat - Chuck Klosterman
The Power of Cold - Níall Ó Murchú
Seek You - Kristen Radtke
Meet the Shadow - Connie Zweig and Jeremiah Abrams
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Credits
Written by:
Richie Schiraldi
Lights, Sound, and Staging by:
Richie Schiraldi
Tech and partial Light Design by:
Ryn Hardiman
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Underscore music by:
Callum Grant
Outro music:
"I Miss Earthquakes"
by Callum Grant
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Musical voiceover interludes:
"I", "II", "III" by Mothica
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Poster photography by:
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Virtual program by:
Britt Anderson
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Special Thanks
To Jaime and Amelia Gutfeldt:
For putting on Hallowine and instigating the birth of this character.
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To Callum Grant:
For creating Broken Planet and having mothman be a part of it from it’s inception, which became a consistent playground to develop this character and material while amassing a following.
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To Britt Anderson:
For dealing with my antics and supporting my strange interests. You’ve been a valuable artistic partner as my work has grown over the years - from rubbing a balloon as an estranged technician in Berlin, through many Broken Planet and cabaret performances, to what I can only call the next chapter of this mask.
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To everyone else:
All of you who have been there to experience and support the Mothman and it’s growth for the past 2 years. Your presence, excitement, and your words of encouragement have done more to help drive me forward than you could ever know. I literally would not have kept working on it without all of your enthusiasm. Thank you.
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*This production is possible partially due to Columbia College Chicago Part Time Faculty Grant
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