AMERICAN APPARITIONS
American Apparitions is a season-long immersive Psychogeographies project from Rorschach Theatre, running from May through September 2026. Created by Randy Baker, Kylos Brannon, Jenny McConnell Frederick, and Jonelle Walker, it explores the ghosts, divinations, and delusions of a country during its milestone anniversary while bringing the lingering presence of long-dead Americans into Washington, DC.
Each month, participants receive a map, travel instructions, and a curated box of artifacts that engage the senses through elements such as letters, music, photographs, souvenirs, and other story materials. These materials guide participants to a new location and reveal another chapter in an ongoing narrative. The project combines literature, music, mystery, romance, local history, and exploration of lesser-traveled sites throughout the DC area.
When: May through September 2026.
Schedule: A new chapter is shipped approximately every four weeks. Participants can begin each experience whenever it is convenient, subject to the operating hours of the location connected to that chapter.
Experience: Each month offers a new DC-area destination, a curated package of artifacts, and instructions for engaging with the site and the continuing story. Participants may also receive optional suggestions for extending or enhancing each expedition.
Run time: Each chapter includes approximately 15 to 40 minutes of content, not including travel time or optional activities.
Creators: Randy Baker, Kylos Brannon, Jenny McConnell Frederick, and Jonelle Walker.
Ages: The project generally falls within a PG to PG-13 range and is intended to be suitable for children, teenagers, and adults, although younger participants’ interest in the story may vary.
Travel: All five chapter locations and the final performance location are in or near downtown Washington, DC, and are accessible by Metro. Travel time depends on each participant’s starting point and transportation method.
At-home option: Participants who cannot or prefer not to travel can follow alternative at-home instructions for every chapter, including a video-guided version of the location. The at-home format is also available to people living outside the city or as a way to revisit a chapter after completing it in person.
Final performance: Each Psychogeographies subscription includes one ticket to a live performance in summer 2026. The performance can be enjoyed without completing all five chapters, and additional single tickets are expected to be available when the production goes on sale.
Subscriptions: Participants may sign up at any point during the project. Those who join after the project begins generally receive all previously released chapters in their first shipment, with back orders typically mailed weekly.
Households: One subscription includes one set of monthly boxes. Sharing a box may require participants to take turns using certain items, and some materials may be consumable.
Venue: Rorschach Theatre.
Tickets: Price not available.