Intergalactic Nemesis: Activating Imagination

There's not much to it: three actors, a few props, a projected image of a custom-drawn graphic novel. Yet, according to creator Jason Neulander, The Intergalactic Nemesis production– at the –is much more than the sum of its parts.

"It has been incredible," the native of Austin, TX, said. "In 20-plus years in performance, I have never seen an audience respond so positively to something."

And, yet, what the audience is getting is a live reading of a comic book. "The things you do in production and figure out the simplest way to do, but combine in a unique way, well, it creates an experience that activiates an audience's imagination," Neulander said. "That's what we do with this show."

It all began as a radio play in the mid-1990s. "Me and some friends, all in our 20s, basically on a lark threw together a no budget homage to Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, etc.," he said. "The project took on a following pretty quick."

The radio version of the show was invited to open in the 2,400-seat Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin. While honored to receive the invitation, "I felt it was too big for the intimate experience of a radio play," Neulander said.

Meanwhile, he had been working with artist Tim Doyle on converting the radio play into a graphic novel. So, "what if we projected the comic book series to fill the hall," Neulander said.

And, The Intergalactic Nemesis live production was born.

The year is 1933. The target: Earth. According to the show's website, "Pulitzer-winning reporter Molly Sloan, her intrepid assistant Timmy Mendez and a mysterious librarian named Ben Wilcott face the most serious threat Earth has ever known: an impending invasion of sludge monsters from the planet Zygon."

The tour is only four months old, and Neulander said "Book One" has already exceeded his expectations.

"They're just still images," he said. "Three actors voicing a bunch of characters, toys for special effects, a piano and organ. Put all those together and it seems to really create this experience that feels a lot bigger than the sum of the original parts."

While two separate groups tour the United States, Neulander, Doyle and crew continue working on "Book Two," titled "Robot Planet Rising," set to premiere in Austin on June 8.

"I'm really lucky," Neulander said. "We have a really great cast of actors, the artwork looks spectacular. When you put them all together and add in imagination, it's a lot of fun."

.

The Mayo Performing Arts Center is currently giving away four sets of two tickets. Visit the Mayo Performing Arts Center Facebook page for more information.