Created by Andrew Agress Starring Connor Wahrman & Andrew Agress Design by Nick Orvis & Becky Ho
Adventure is a walk in the park…
What Is Raiders of the Local Adventure?
Great question! Grab your fedora and holster your puns because Raiders of the Local Adventure is an interactive comedic expedition. Renowned archeologist Dr. Grones and his assistant Milo guide attendees on a perilous journey through the dangerous and mystical lands of a local park in search of a mysterious lost artifact, spoofing your favorite pulp adventure stories along the way. Watch out for cryptic clues, derring-do, deception, dangerous wildlife, meddling academics, and more in this wacky adventure!
Oftentimes, especially in a city, we become so accustomed to our surroundings that we take them for granted, aware of them but not really tuned in. And nowhere do we risk missing so much when we do this as in our parks. As such, our show aims to imbue the park--any park--with a sense of adventure and get people to see it with new eyes. A spoof of adventure stories felt like the natural fit, as the genre and its tropes focus on searching for wonder in the world. We hope this experience can get people to appreciate the world around us, even just our great parks, and associate them with a sense of adventure.
Why Are We Going to The Edinburgh Fringe?
After a highly successful test run of Raiders of the Local Adventure in Central Park in the fall of 2024, we knew we wanted to bring the show back. Audiences praised the show for providing joy but also for making them see Central Park with new eyes (figurative eyes, not to be confused with The Cerulean Eyes of The Lost Temple of Optometry). Thanks to our success this past fall, we’ll bring the show back to New York this spring. But the adventure never ends at the first stop. So we figured, why not bring the show to another park to showcase its nature and splendor?
Having attended the Edinburgh Fringe in 2012 and 2017, Andrew knew that Edinburgh has a lovely park, Holyrood Park, which would be perfect for the show. And Historic Environment Scotland agreed! The agency, which is the leading institution managing heritage land in Scotland and only allows a select few programs in the historic park each year, approved Raiders of the Local Adventure for the Edinburgh Fringe. We're incredibly honored to be able to present our show in such a beautiful park that has ponds, hills, and real ruins!
The Edinburgh Fringe is the world's largest performing arts festival, with more than 3,000 shows. As the only one in Holyrood Park this year, we're excited to provide festival goers with a daytime show that will get them out of the theater and into nature. And the Edinburgh Fringe is famous for its diverse audiences who seek out experimental shows. On top of that, the Edinburgh Fringe is a great springboard for networking with other artists, building a name for our shows, and looking for new opportunities. Who knows what park we'll perform in next! And don't worry, before we go to Edinburgh we'll have another New York run for our local friends.
What Will We Do With Your Money? Will We Put It In a Museum?
If we could sell rare artifacts for cash, we could easily get to the Edinburgh Fringe on our own. But as any principled archeologist/adventurer will take you, that's no bueno.
For a successful & exciting series of performances in Edinburgh, we need:
Time and space to dream up a new version of the show for Edinburgh's Holyrood Park, complete with new clues and a new map to the Ominous Legendary Desired Container Restraining Ancient Power!
Resources for another New York production in Central Park to share it with our local community & get valuable feedback on the updates we’ve made to the show!
Fringe registration & listing in the Festival program
Eye-catching & exciting marketing materials to promote the show, attracting new audiences & reviewers!
Plane tickets, so we can do that cool red line across a map montage while music plays, and accommodations, so we can be well rested for leading adventures!
Who Are We?
Andrew Agress (Creator/Dr. Grones) is a dramaturg, experience designer, and writer based in NYC. Recent credits include The Fantastical Fellowship, an interactive fantasy spoof that enjoyed sold out performances at FRIGID, Der Ring Gott Farblonjet, another fantasy spoof, The Gorilla Wore Fur, a noir spoof, as well as Jyoti's Bridge, She Walks the Air, and The Seagull (The Tech Rehearsal). Andrew also writes for The Theatre Times and The Outerhaven. Andrew received their MFA in Dramaturgy from Columbia University. He previously lived in Chicago, performing and studying improv at The Second City Conservatory, The Annoyance, and iO. Andrew believes in making shows experiential and engaging the audience in the live event. www.andrewagress.com
Connor Wahrman (Collaborator/Milo Snatch) is a New York-based and Mikwaukee-raised actor with a lifelong love of adventure... stories. Prior stage experience includes undergraduate productions of The Zoo Story (Peter), As You Like It (Jaques), and Taking Ages (Ensemble), and more recently classes with The Barrow Group. Prior park experience includes Doctors Park, Rock Creek Park, Roger Williams Park, and Summit Park.
Rebecca Ho (Collaborator) is a half Vietnamese, half Chinese actor originally from Brisbane, Australia. She is absolutely thrilled to be a part of this quest! Select NEW YORK: The World's Most Boring Murder (The Players Theater), The Fantastical Fellowship... (Frigid NYC), The Seagull, Loves Labours Lost, Office Hour, A Lie of the Mind (Columbia University); Single Asian Female (Australian Theatre Festival). REGIONAL: A Christmas Carol (Portland Stage), Richard II, As You Like It, The Importance of Being Earnest, Eurydice (Theater at Monmouth). FILM: Amici, Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow... VO: Bibigo Dumplings. Columbia University MFA Acting (2023). www.rebeccahoactor.com Nicholas Orvis (he/him) (Collaborator/Design Consultant) is a dramaturg, critic, and doctoral candidate at the David Geffen School of Drama. His previous dramaturgy includes Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles by Luis Alfaro and Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Yale Repertory Theatre); Green Suga Bloos and Almost (nearly) Fucking Finally (David Geffen School of Drama at Yale); The Hedgehog’s Dilemma (Yale Cabaret); and the father, the son, and the holy spirit (Yale Summer Cabaret). From 2014-2019 Nick was the Literary Associate for Premiere Stages at Kean University, where he helped develop new plays by writers including Deborah Brevoort, Nicole Pandolfo, Keith Josef Adkins, and Tammy Ryan. Nick is a former managing editor of Theater magazine and a co-creator and producer of the ongoing Dungeons + Drama Nerds, a podcast exploring the intersections between theater and tabletop roleplaying games.
Rewards
Adventuring Secretive Society
Donate $10.00 or more
Amount is fully tax-deductible.
Get a sneak peak behind the scenes! A subscription to a monthly newsletter leading up to the Fringe and recapping our adventures abroad
In the Pages of History
Donate $15.00 or more
Amount is fully tax-deductible.
Future archeologists will remember your name. Which is to say, you'll get a public thank you on our website + subscription to the monthly newsletter
Mummy Megamix
Donate $25.00 or more
Amount is fully tax-deductible.
The sounds of adventure! Receive an exclusive Raiders of the Local Adventure-inspired Spotify playlist. The playlist features music from the various adventure works that inspire the show + public thank you on our website + subscription to the monthly newsletter
One Raider
Donate $50.00 or more
Amount over $20.00 is tax-deductible.
The early archeologist gets the artifact! Receive one (1) ticket to one of our select New York City performances in Central Park before tickets go on sale to the public + a public thank you on our website + subscription to the monthly newsletter + exclusive Spotify playlist
Two(mb) Raider
Donate $75.00 or more
Amount over $40.00 is tax-deductible.
Receive two (2) tickets to one of our select New York City performances in Central Park before tickets go on sale to the public + a public thank you on our website + subscription to the monthly newsletter + exclusive Spotify playlist
Footage of Nessie!?
Donate $100.00 or more
Amount over $20.00 is tax-deductible.
We'll send you a personalized video diary from Scotland + a public thank you on our website + subscription to the monthly newsletter + exclusive Spotify playlist + one (1) ticket to one of our select New York City performances in Central Park
Stamps... Why'd it Have to be Stamps?
Donate $250.00 or more
Amount over $25.00 is tax-deductible.
We'll send you a postcard from Edinburgh! + a public thank you on our website + subscription to the monthly newsletter + exclusive Spotify playlist + one (1) ticket to one of our select New York City performances in Central Park + personalized video diary from Scotland
This Belongs in Your Museum!
Donate $500.00 or more
Amount over $45.00 is tax-deductible.
Receive an exclusive map of our Central Park adventure signed by the cast and crew + a public thank you on our website + subscription to the monthly newsletter + exclusive Spotify playlist + one (1) ticket to one of our select New York City performances in Central Park + personalized video diary from Scotland + postcard from Edinburgh
Steal the Declaration of Indy Pen Dance
Donate $1,000.00 or more
Amount over $45.00 is tax-deductible.
Donate $1000 and receive a custom shoutout live in the show naming a "founder" of the Adventuring Secretive Society + a public thank you on our website + subscription to the monthly newsletter + exclusive Spotify playlist + one (1) ticket to one of our select New York City performances in Central Park + personalized video diary from Scotland + postcard from Edinburgh + signed Central Park adventure map