Have you heard that Yonder is coming?
What is Yonder?
What is site-specific theater?
What is immersive theater?
Have no fear! Kaitlin is here, and I am ready to answer these questions!
Yonder is an adventure.
Imagine the scene: 1928 Levelland, Texas. The Wallace Theater. The characters of Yonder are wandering across space and time. They have to work together to find their way home and they need your help. Through this adventure, we will learn about their back-stories and why this group of people have been ‘Yondered.’
We have been advertising Yonder as site-specific theater. What is site-specific theater?
Site-specific theater is any type of theatrical production designed to be performed at a unique, specially adapted location. The Wallace is proud to be the unique and specially adapted location for Yonder.
But Kaitlin, you ask, how was The Wallace chosen for this opportunity?
The Texas Tech Vernacular Music Center Elegant Savages Orchestra performed Nosferatu at the Wallace in October of 2018. (I wish I could have seen it. I can tell by the pictures that I missed out.)
Driving home from Nosferatu, Dr. Christopher Smith and Roger Landes were inspired to write the Yonder show. They loved the history of The Wallace. They could see its potential, and they wanted to create a story that enhanced its charm.
Nosferatu is a silent film. The Elegant Savages Orchestra played a live soundtrack for the film showing at The Wallace.
What is immersive theater?
I know there is immersive theater outside of West Texas, but I had never experienced it in person. To learn more about immersive theater, I googled it. I found Lux Technical. They are a technical company that helps put on productions for immersive theater, and Lux Technical defines immersive theater as a presentation or theatrical form or work that breaks the “fourth wall” that traditionally separates the performer from the audience both physically and verbally. This definition helped me understand why Yonder is so different, and by different, I mean awesome! This is a first of it’s kind show in West Texas. As an audience member experiencing Yonder, you will be able to choose what character to follow, and the actors will be performing all around you and throughout the Wallace.
You do not want to miss this adventure. April 16th has already SOLD OUT. Friday, April 17th and Saturday, April 18th still have tickets. We have individual tickets, group tickets, and shuttle tickets from Cheers Shuttle! Some even include a free beverage! YES, Sign me up! There is even a special code for students, TTUSPC. Prices on tickets will raise after Sunday, March 9th! Get your tickets ASAP at www.wallacetheater.com/events.
