Kickstart This
Austin’s oddest acting troupe, The Old Murder House Theatre, brings their bitcross-country with Jurassic Farce
Millions of years of genetic preservation. Thousands of miles from civilization. Hundreds of once-extinct life forms. Dozens of skeptical scientists. One small stage.
Wait, what? Are we talking about Steven Spielberg’s classic Jurassic Park, or an independent theater production? Both, guys. Both.
This summer, Austin’s own Old Murder House Theatre company attempts to tackle one of the most awe-inspiring big-budget films of all time, translating the epic adventure to a much smaller scale. It may sound daunting, but this troupe of actors, comics and theater pros knows what they’re doing; you may have seen their rendition of Aliens on Ice last fall, or maybe you caught Back to the Future Live, Robocop or Independence Day?
Those were all amazing productions, but this 11-city tour takes it to the next level, with the team traveling to bring their patented brand of absurdity cross-country. And they need your help to make it happen!
“We love movies, and we suffer from a deplorable excess of personality,” the group explains:
The target of our latest play was actually the first film that Murder House lovingly re-staged eons ago, on the back porch, for a few dozen friends and defenseless passers-by. Spielberg's 1993 blockbuster is a masterpiece of pop spectacle, thrilling action, and memorable characters - a film that is, itself, larger than life. Now, with four years of creative re-engineering under our collective belt, Murder House is tracing our evolution back to its beginnings, painstakingly rendering multimillion-dollar CG creatures in cardboard and duct-tape. This show wasn’t meant to cater only to the super-rich. Everyone in the world has the right to see these animals. And they will, because we’re bringing the show to you!
If you're still not convinced that the larger-than-life classic can be re-created on the small stage, trust that the adaptation experts at OMHT have some pretty impressive merits under their belt.
Aliens on Ice
If you’re in Austin, good news: you’ll have two chances to catch Jurassic Farce live, on the first night of the tour (June 10) and the last (July 3). So far, OMHT has slated dates in ten other cities but, on the Kickstarter, they’ve got a survey for far-flung fans to let them know of other areas with an overwhelming demand for some low-budget dino DNA.
Austin, TX — June 10th
Houston, TX — June 12th
New Orleans, LA — June 14th
Atlanta, GA — June 16th
Washington D.C. — June 18th
New York, NY — June 20th
Boston, MA — June 21st
Chicago, IL — June 23rd
San Francisco, CA — June 26th
Los Angeles, CA — June 28th
Dallas, TX — July 1st
Austin, TX (Encore) — July 3rd
Back to the Future Live
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Follow The Old Murder House Theatre on Twitter and Facebook for updates, and don’t forget to Kickstart their tour!
Euro Igloos are decked out and cozy, providing a refuge for up to 10 guests.
Photo from Mozart's Coffee Roasters Facebook Page
