Live action graphic novel announces tour dates

Never heard of a live 'graphic novel' before? You're not alone as the show, The Intergalactic Nemesis, is the first of it's kind... well, second maybe. The newly announced tour covers the second 'chapter' of the story- Robot Planet Uprising.

When I first saw the release, I was a little 'huh?', but I've gotta say, this sounds like it actually might be a lot of fun. One thing's for sure- it's definitely original, no doubt about that. The story centers on 1933 Earth and a mysterious portal that brings travelers to a strange, robotic world.

The year is 1933. Picking up two weeks after the end of Book One: Target Earth, Book Two finds Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Molly Sloan and intrepid research assistant Timmy Mendez on Robonovia, the Robot Planet. When the robot emissary Elbee-Dee-Oh disappears in deep space, it's up to Molly to rescue him. If only it were that simple. At that same time, and unbeknownst to her, Molly’s former fiancé Dr. Lawrence Webster has miraculously arrived on Robonovia, the Cerebretron is malfunctioning, Timmy has only just begun to master his telekinetic powers, a sinister robot named Alphatron is up to something terribly nefarious, and the duplicitous Soviet spy Natasha Zorokov has followed Dr. Webster through the Galactascope. Will it all get sorted out? Or is there another, more evil, thread to this complex tapestry? There's only one way to find out!

Basically, the show works like this- three voice actors, a sound effects performer, and a music director are up on the stage. They do the panel by panel acting out of a full length comic book tale as the pages from it are cast across a giant screen. Oh, and it's not short- the whole of chapter 2 is told in 1,250 "hand-drawn, full-color, hi-res, blow-your-mind comic-book images". But don;t take my word for it- take it away, famed television celebrity talk show host, Conan O'Brien:



There'll be all kinds of neat stuff like props from the show, memorabilia, and actual graphic novelizations available for fans to purchase at performances as well. And make sure you're on the lookout for local tie-ins at restaurants when you go - that's a nice touch there.

In a genre of its own—Live-Action Graphic Novel—The Intergalactic Nemesis saga is a hilarious, uplifting adventure of heroes-by-circumstance overcoming impossible odds. But the telling is what makes the experience of The Intergalactic Nemesis so incredibly unique: while three actors, one Foley artist, and one keyboardist perform all the voices, sound effects and music, more than 1,250 hand-drawn, full-color, hi-res, blow-your-mind comic-book images blast from the screen, all performed live.

The Intergalactic Nemesis—the production which has toured the nation since its 2010 Austin premiere—is set to debut its second installment in its hometown of Austin, Texas on June 8. Created and directed by Jason Neulander, the Austin-created production is written by Neulander & Chad Nichols with voice acting by Shannon McCormick, Danu Uribe and Jason Phelps, featuring a live, original score by Graham Reynolds and live sound effects created by Buzz Moran. The enormous, projected comic art is courtesy of David Hutchison’s line art with spectacular coloring by Lee Duhig. Neulander has created a cottage industry out of his East Austin home, a community of creative colleagues, and by developing an original version of the show at Little City Coffee Shop over 15 years ago.

Fun through and through, The Intergalactic Nemesis is also available in audio-version on CD and the bound graphic novels are available online and at productions along with Zygonian slime, sound effects gadgets, and more. Neulander has also arranged for fun, local tie-ins for the premiere such as an Amy's Ice Creams combo and a House Pizzeria pork belly and brussels sprouts pizza. A number of actual, locally built robots will be at the premiere including a full size R2D2 from the Star Wars series (built by Jamie McShan). KUT Radio (Austin’s NPR affiliate) will be broadcasting the radio versions of Books One and Two on their program O'Dark:30, also featuring Nemesis for the June 5 "Views and Brews" at the Cactus Cafe.

Sound good? The Intergalactic Nemesis comes to NY this October, particularly cool is that it will be playing at the New Victory theater in NYC in April of next year. The Vic is right next door to Spider-Man Turn off the Dark- that'd make for a pretty nice afternoon of comic book, sci-fi geekery. Want more cities (and states)? The full selection of dates, if for some reason you don't live in the Metro area, is listed below.

The Intergalactic Nemesis 2012/2013 Tour Dates

• June 8, 2012 – Book Two: Robot Planet Rising at the Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin, Texas
• August 29, 2012 – Book One: Target Earth at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana
• September 21, 2012 – Book One: Target Earth at McCain Auditorium, Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas
• September 22, 2012 – Book One: Target Earth and Book Two: Robot Planet Rising at Lied Center for the Arts, University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas
• October 12, 2012 – Book One: Target Earth at Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio
• October 21, 2012 – Book One: Target Earth at Smith Center for the Arts in Geneva, New York
• October 26, 2012 – Book Two: Robot Planet Rising at The Flynn in Burlington, Vermont
• November 3, 2012 – Book One: Target Earth at Clowes Hall in Indianapolis, Indiana
• November 10, 2012 – Book One: Target Earth at Dorothy Menker Theatre in Palo Hills, Illinois
• November 17, 2012 – Book One: Target Earth at Carolina Theatre in Durham, North Carolina
• January 9, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Maui, Hawaii
• January 11, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu, Hawaii
• January 13, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at Kahilu Theatre in Big Island, Hawaii
• January 18, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, Maryland
• February 1, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at Victoria Theatre in Dayton, Ohio
• February 8, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at Leach Theatre in Rolla, Missouri
• March 1, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at Lincoln Center in Fort Collins, Colorado
• March 2, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at Boulder Theater in Boulder, Colorado
• March 8, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at Hanover College Presents... in Hanover, Indiana
• March 20, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at Rose Theatre in Brampton, Ontario, Canada
• March 21, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at Centre for the Arts, Brock University in St. Catarines, Ontario, Canada
• March 23, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth and Book Two: Robot Planet Rising at Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin
• March 28-31, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth and Book Two: Robot Planet Rising at GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady, New York
• April 1-14, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at New Victory Theatre in New York, New York
• April 19, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at Esplenade Arts and Heritage Centre Medicine Hat in Alberta, Canada
• April 20, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at EPCOR Centre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• April 22, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre in Vernon, BC, Canada
• May 4, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Florida
• May 6-13, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at IMAGINATE Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland
• May 16-19 –  Book One: Target Earth and Book Two: Robot Planet Rising at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC
• May 29-31, and June 2, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California
• June 1, 2013 – Book One: Target Earth at Haugh Performing Arts Center in Glendora, California