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Over weeks of rehearsal, the eight-person cast dedicated itself to creating shared history and character dynamics that would reflect the depth of real-life family relationships.

As the night went on it became clear that there was something about this family ... if you ever wanted to be a part of a supernatural murder mystery with professional actors then this is the production for you.

Regardless, it’s best you come prepared because “Hide,” the new play produced by Vigilance Theater Group (https://www.vigilancetheater.com/) completely immerses its audience in its supernatural world.

And as someone who shies from horror, particularly the gory stuff, I was unfazed that the experience has a claw in that realm yet leans more into the spooky, the mysterious and the sensual.

Vigilance is a theater company that passionately pushes the medium forward. They eschew the passivity that is pervasive in a lot of theatre, and instead, advocate for more demanding productions that share powerful messages, whether they be completely original works or wild interpretations of more familiar fare. Pacifying people with run-of-the-mill entertainment is easy. Crafting an experience that will be sure to stimulate and stick with them, not so much. But time and time again, Vigilance Theater Group puts on a show that does exactly that.

This production’s conceit, although simplistic, is brilliant as an immersive piece of theatre. Not only are there the performances to enjoy, but there’s also the olfactory nirvana from the marriage of seemingly boundless nature and a controlled blaze, the delicious taste of toasty treats, the occasional water droplet from the branches above, all soundtracked by crackling of firewood and the dulled chatter of animals heckling from the shadows. It is a combination of artistic forms and styles that simultaneously innovates and harkens back to tradition.

Chances are good that at some point along your educational journey, someone made you read Arthur Miller’s 1953 Salem witch trials play “The Crucible.” For Renee Rabenold, that foundational academic milestone occurred when she was a senior theater major at Point Park University.

We're chatting with our friend Sean Collier, the founder of the Vigilance Theater Group, about their upcoming production of the classic, "The Crucible," and the unique twist they're putting on it by taking the show outdoors.

Witnessing a slasher film from the safe distance between seat and screen is one thing, but just imagine being in the room where it happens when the masked killer strikes.

PTL's Daisy Jade is talking with our friend and PTL contributor Sean Collier about his new play, "Blood Moon," an immersive theater experience perfect for slasher movie fans.

The whole point of immersive theater is, well, the immersion part, which can be challenging when people are stuck in their homes and even small crowds are prohibited. For the fledgling Vigilance Theater Group, the desire to put on what would be its third show in the face of COVID-19 restrictions required some creativity.

Writer and playwright Sean Collier has a new production hitting the stage in Pittsburgh through Sept. 8

In immersive theater, there is up-close and personal engagement of individuals and the group, and a big chunk of your appreciation is your willingness to surrender to the experience.

Dusk (Anna Failla) and Dawn (Saige Smith) have come with dire warnings for the Earth and beyond in Sean Collier’s “Welcome to Moonside,” an immersive theater piece staged inside the former Lava Lounge in the Southside.

There is a theater experience where guests become part of the show.

“Welcome to Moonside” is a production of the Vigilance Theater Group where there is no stage, no curtain.