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A crisp night, under a full moon, in the woods, listening to ghost stories around a blazing campfire is the perfect way to unwind, forget about everyday stresses, and appreciate the simple things in life. Do yourself a favor and take the time to smell the campfire. Join the other happy campers at Camp Moonside for a much-deserved restorative interlude.

Undoubtedly, your own personal history with summer camps will color this introduction to Camp Moonside; whether you were an eager participant in the unreality of the camp experience or a nervous wallflower reluctantly being whisked from makeshift station to makeshift station during camp orientation, the first twenty minutes or so of Campfire Stories may prove to be the scariest part. 

And here, Brooke Echnat‘s mise en scène was, in my view, very successful, since there is an extended temporality for this prologue moment, truly functioning as a make-believe game, a passage, an invitation: now you will be the campers. Ok!

Director Brooke Echnat and performers Sydney DuBose and Bradleigh Bell join the show to give a sneak peek.

Unlike a typical reimaging of MacBeth, this cast plays two parts simultaneously, a testament to their skills onstage. Dynamic physicality and incredible delivery of difficult dialogue are behind every stellar performance.

Mac Beth is the refreshing take on Shakespeare you didn’t know you needed. As a “Brat” flag triumphantly flies near the end of the play, it becomes clear that Vigilance Theater’s Mac Beth is the kickoff to Brat Summer 2.0.

Without spoiling the brilliance of it I will only say that it is somehow more devastating, more shocking, and a sharper lens through which darkness, chaos, and conflict thrive. “Double double toil and trouble” is much, much scarier when a group of schoolgirls are taunting you, even if you are a king.

Shakespeare is stepping into the 21st century. We got to meet the stars of an outdoor, modern version of "Mac Beth!"

“They’re really bringing energy, enthusiasm and a lot of humor,” Collier said of the cast. “It’s Macbeth, you know how it’s going to end, but the road to get there over the course of the 90 minutes is often very funny … in areas where there is a place for genuine humor.”

Vigilance continues to push the envelope with their unique immersive experiences. Whether they’re presenting an original work or interpreting someone else’s, their influence is impossible to ignore. Doing what most other companies can’t or won’t do puts them in an incredible position to bring unparalleled productions to the Pittsburgh area.

Vigilance Theater Group reimagines Sarah Kane’s final work in its latest production

The cast presents the final torment of Sarah Kane with heart, compassion and spectacle. Our intention is to celebrate life while honoring the gifts left to us by those who have gone before.

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.