We are the cast and creators of Portal 2: The (Unauthorized) Musical and lots of other geeky theatre. AUA!

So after this show what is next for you guys? (ps- love everything you do - haven't missed a production from you guys)

Graeme: Wow.

Fairlith: Lots of stuff! We're doing our first Star Wars burlesque spectacular again, but on a way bigger scale for a two-week engagement in Vancouver, and a BC tour. And we're doing a gender-swapped Princess Bride, and a Guardians of the Galaxy burlesque spectacular... and a Nicholas Cage-themed variety show....

Graeme: No I'm not being a part of the Nicholas Cage-themed variety show.

Davin: I will.

Gender-swapped Princess Bride? I love you.

Fairlith: As you wish.

how did you manage to get rights to princess bride? a friend has been trying, but didn't manage to get them in time for this year. any advice?

Fairlith: Alas, parody.

Gender-swapped Princess Bride ??? Wow. Definitely do an AMA on that one later on then please. Sooooo many questions...

Ask away! We've got nowhere to be except rehearsal, and we're in charge, and at rehearsal anyway, so... Hi.

(POSSIBLE SPOILERS OF PRINCESS BRIDE) Will it be mainly based on the movie or the book ? I loved the fact that the narrator interrupts frequently the story in the book, which is by far less true in the movie.

Fairlith: Little of both. There will be more interjections by Columbo in the stage show, reminiscent of the book. But because we're selling nostalgia and nobody reads anymore... It'll be really reminiscent of the film, costume and look-wise.

Damn you people are nice people :D

We're really excited!

I must admit I knew about the Princess Bride one (I am one of the turret's wife) but did not know about the GotG one, that so of made me Squee at work a little not going to lie!

Fairlith: Surprise!

This isn't a question but I must tell you..Nick constantly talks about the show and for some reason thinks everyone in the world knows you Fairith. It is funny when other humans just look at him like WTF?!

Fairlith: WHAT.

Well, nobody knows Fairith, but everybody knows Fairlith, that's why. Case closed.

... I should really head to bed.

Fairlith: Hahahah. Head to bed? NEVER. It's only 3pm, where are you? Also, nobody knows me.

Bahaha, he gushes. Pretty well constantly. I tease him about being a fanboy.

I tease him about it too...it's adorable.

WHAAAAAAT.

Whaaaaaat.

Oh yes. So much. The mocking is nigh endless. I thought he was excited with my being a stage ewok in Reveal, but I have heard so many high-pitched squeals of glee the further into rehearsals you get. It's fantastic when you get to see people that excited and passionate about what they're doing!

Adorable.

But seriously, I walk through life fairly anonymous.

Tickets are almost sold out for opening night and I'm sure Saturday will be gone pretty soon too. Will you be holding over the show? Will it be performed anywhere else in Vancouver?

Fairlith: March 13/14 at the Rio! They told us like an hour ago? So... yes. And hopefully a longer theatrical run in the fall, too.

Hi ! Will you be releasing an album for the songs ?

Fairlith: Yes! We're making a cast recording and it will be FREE.

So, free album, free video on youtube.... Come on people, let us throw some money at you, FOR SCIENCE !

Fairlith: Virtual tip jar? We're too Canadian. I can't handle it. You all are so nice.

Davin: Sorry.

Graeme: No, I'm sorry. Beaver tail?

What's true though is that if you want to tour, you could ask what people on reddit think of it and then maybe try launching a kickstarter.

Fairlith: I think we will, I just need to get drunk and brave first.

Do you need Alisha and I to make one?

Fairlith: No, but I do need rum.

I re-recommend putting a PayPal donation button on the Geekenders' website.

Graeme: Right? I'll talk to da furlith HEY FURLITH GET A PAYPAL

Fairlith: nods

Graeme: that's the best I could do

is there like a mailing list we can join for a link to the recording when it comes out?

Fairlith: We will be announcing it on youtube and releasing it on iTunes so you can subscribe to our youtube or follow us on Facebook

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/user/Geekenders

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Geekenders

Are you planning on touring?

Fairlith: We're already touring to a couple of places in our home province... we'd REALLY like to tour, but can't afford to! If the show does really well, we'd like to. And of course, being Canadian, the whole... work visa situation is kind of tough? If things keep going as well as they are, though, we'll find a way. We're super obsessed with this show.

come up to northern bc!

Fairlith: gurl where u at

Come to ontario!

We'd like to! We're poor!

What will you do if you get on stage and realise /u/gaben is in the middle of the front row ?

Fairlith: Give him a lap dance while dressed as GLaDOS.

Davin: Give him a lap dance while dressed as Cave Johnson.

Graeme: Film it.

Perfect. Now, if I could just find a gaben costume somewhere...

Graeme: Pinterest.

Boy. You really want to use that camera... ;)

Fairlith: He went to school for film!

Okay then. Aaaaand this'll be my final comment. TO BED o/

Graeme: Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let the test subjects bite.

..... holding a big cake...

...... with a big "3" on top of it ?

Graeme: Now you're just being ridiculous

Remember when you tried to kill me twice?

Fairlith: Oh, how we laughed and laughed.

Except I wasn't laughing.

Fairlith: Under the circumstances, I've been shockingly nice!

Based on a review, "With the use of huge puppets, beautiful human x-wings and tie fighters, and explosions of confetti, this was both mind-blowing and epic.", about your previous show.

Will there be (without spoilers, of course) "special effects" in this one too ?

Fairlith: Yes! PORTALS!

Davin: Science.

Fairlith: There are two actresses who look fairly similar, have similar builds and the same wig, playing Chell. I hope that's not a spoiler.

Graeme: And they're both really nice and pretty. I get uncomfortable talking to them.

How long until I space?

Fairlith: Depends. Are you space?

Space space space space space space space..... I learned my script.

Fairlith: YOU'RE HIRED!

Do you prefer blue or orange ?

Davin: Um, orange. Graeme: Uhh, green. Fairlith: Blue is more soothing. Also, Graeme is literally colourblind.

Haha ok :D Oh, I wonder if that's an issue when playing the game... Especially in 2-player mode, with 4 portal colours.

Graeme: Um, no... I'm red-green colourblind. So that doesn't really affect me. It's more like dark browns and dark greens. I thought a chalk board was brown, my entire life.

Ah ok, thanks for the info !

No problem! :)

Will you be filming and releasing the musical online?

Fairlith: Yes! It'll be released in its entirety on youtube!

Have you guys run into any legal worries since developing this show?

Fairlith: Not so far. We wrote to Valve extensively when coming up with the show, and didn't hear back... and then Kim Swift said she's coming to the show, which is incredible. So I think they're kind of just ignoring us, which is fine with me.

The way the show is structured is that the 16 songs are parodies, mostly, so... that helps a little bit. We just love the story so, so much.

It is awesome Kim Swift is coming (one of your cast members told me that not too long ago and we high fived like a bunch and danced around)

We are DYING

KIM SWIFT IS COMING ? omg omg omg.

RIGHT!??!?!?!?!

Do you have any puzzles planned for pre-show or intermission?

Fairlith: Intermission might come with a couple of surprises.

Graeme: We're gonna throw rubix cubes at you. Just you.

I've had worse things happen with cubes. :(

Graeme: Hey...hey...yeah.

What would you have to say to anyone who is concerned that you might not do the games justice?

Graeme: Cometh at me, brethren.

Davin: Just you wait. Seeing a poster for Portal 2 might make you wonder 'how the hell are they going to pull it off?'... When you see it, you'll understand, and be very, very happy.

Fairlith: I would just tell them to think about how musical the game already is. And how quirky, and fun, and human the characters are even when they're not actually human. And there's the turret opera, and Want You Gone, and Still Alive, and everything. It really lends itself.

[deleted]

We just practiced it!

Can you tell us more about the theater where this show takes place?

Graeme: It's a really fun venue, I like the atmosphere and the audience that it draws out, you know, they get super gong-show wasted and then they just kind of hoot and holler and really support you. I think that's more of a credit to the Geekenders fan base, more or less? But I think there are also some really avid Rio supporters that go to everything, and there's such a great crowd and great energy. The staff is super pleasant and really fun to work with.

When are you guys making Richochet: The Musical?

Ha.

Hello, my name is Merle. What are your favorite plays?

Graeme: Well, baby brother... I'd say... I'm a bad actor, I don't read nearly as many plays as I perform in. Some of my favourite plays would have to be Seven Stories, Dog Sees God, Into the Woods... that's a musical. I saw the Drowsy Chaperone, and that's easily one of my favourite musicals ever.

Davin: I kind of agree with Graeme when it comes to not... I mean, I have seen some shows, but what really got my into theatre was in university when my professor told me I could do whatever I wanted. And I'd seen Glengarry Glen Ross with my mom. So... And musical, Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat. Because Donny Osmond made eye contact with me.

Fairlith: I do nothing but watch plays and musicals because I'm not a balanced human being. Beauty and the Beast, The Importance of Being Earnest, Pippin, Cabaret, Little Shop of Horrors, I don't even... anything. I will watch any theatre. I have a problem.

Did you know that there's a musical version of Earnest? It's called "Ernest in Love" and it's witty and cute and very fun. Watching your preview kind of reminded me of it, since you so effortlessly turned Wheatley's apple dialogue into song. That's the kind of thing they did with the Earnest music.

Fairlith: Awww! That's both super nice (effortlessly :D) and intriguing. I have written a note here... uhh... check out that thing.

How much time do you guys devote to this?

Fairlith: Five nights a week, three hours per rehearsal, generally. I mean, the show opens in less than two weeks so now we're doing more, and the week leading up we'll be doing nothing but pretending to be Portal characters.

Thank you for the reply! Also Fairlith, will you marry me?

Fairlith: Okay.

Davin: Nice.

Fairlith: Who are you?

Graeme: What will you give as a dowry? I want a goat. Or at least three. Or a hundred duck-sized goats. How strong are their necks?

Fairlith: Yes, I'll marry you, take me away from this.

The dowry is one goat and two sheep although she is worth at least 3 sheep.

Graeme: Hi, Dowry Advisor here, we've got way too many sheep, we need wheat or bricks.

Due to the sanctions against Russia wheat is hard to come by. Would you like clay or stone bricks?

Fairlith: Burgers.

Fairlith: How romantic!

Are you capable of putting into words how excited you were to discover how well word-of-mouth had spread about this show?

Graeme: It was a lot of "Da fuu...DA fuu!?...DA FUUUU-?!?" It's also now turned into a terrifying challenge for myself (and maybe all of us in the cast but I can't speak for everyone). We were working hard already because we just wanted to put on a show outside the realm of burlesque, not just a show, but a full scale musical. Now since there has been such a MASSIVE spike in interest I think we're feeling just that much more pressure to make it the best we can. It was so cool to see how nice and insanely supportive the Reddit community has been. I also pee'd a bit.

Davin: I really didn't know what to think about it at first, I've just been focusing like crazy on the show. But then I started getting messages from random people on Facebook, and then looking at the IMGUR that was over a million - then I started vibrating a bit. But holy diver its been an amazing feeling!

Where is the best source or links to find out the basic story, back story for people who love musical theatre but haven't played the video game?

Fairlith: There's a really great walk-through that you can watch like a movie...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUiD2IyUpDI

Or Wikipedia has a decent synopsis. Honestly, we wrote it so our moms would understand the show. Speaking of which...

Davin: Hi, mom.

Hi Davin Thanks Fairlith, lots of my friends and family are coming and we need a quick debrief. And it is good to know that we will understand. We are all pretty pumped!

Fairlith: Us too!

Graeme: Hi, Davin's mom.

Are you planning to focus more on burlesque shows, or musical theatre in 2015?

Fairlith: Bit of column A, bit of column B. I'm working on 'Doctor Whosical' right now.

Graeme: I'm hoping that Portal picks up enough traction that we can keep on producing it and expanding it and actually run the show for what it's worth. It's so difficult to work for two months on a show and only run it for two days. So it would be nice to be able to run Portal like an 'actual' theatre company would.

Davin: I completely agree with both of their answers.

Graeme: And I agree with Davin.

Without giving too much away, does the musical generally follow the plot of the game? Or how is it converting this game into a full-blown musical?

Fairlith: It does generally follow the plot. Much of Act 2 involves flashbacks to vintage Aperture Science and the adventures of Cave, Caroline, and Black Mesa... I think Portal is a very naturally musical property. The score is so important.

Graeme: I had my doubts when you first told me you were doing this. I thought, 'how is this feasible, there are no characters', but you put the cores in more and you expanded the world and breathed so much life into the facility itself.

Fairlith: Thank you.

Davin: Coverting it basically with what we have at our disposal, everybody from different backgrounds and everything... we don't have the budget to do gigantic things, but with the stuff and actors we do have, it just... works. It really works.

Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or 1 horse-sized duck?

Davin: 100 duck-sized horses. Lots of kicking.

Graeme: Yeah, like... a hundred is a lot. And they all have teeth and stuff like that, but how strong are their necks?

Davin: it's like running into a field of mousetraps, it's not that bad.

Graeme: Could you like pick them up by their necks and hit them with each other while kicking them? Or you could do, like, Resident Evil 4 mercenary mode and be Hunk and just like pop 'em all in the head with the TMP and then just... like, go on a neck-break spree.

Fairlith: I would tame the horse-sized duck and ride it.

Graeme: No, you gotta f*ckin' fight it!

Davin: Fight it with love.

Fairlith: Okay, I'll Care Bear Stare 100 duck-sized horses.

What is your favourite core?

Graeme: They all give me a headache. But I've got a soft spot for fact.

Fairlith: The adventure core is dreamy.

Davin: I love working with all three of the actors, and what everyone's bringing to them... but the fact core just... his improv skills are very good. And he's absolutely hilarious.

Fairlith: What about in the game?

Davin: Oh! Space.

Wanna go to space? SSSPPPPPPAAAAACCCCEEEE!

Davin: Yes.

Is a Tetris burlesque show outta the question ?

Davin: No.

Graeme: I don't see it being a good fit.

Fairlith: Nothing's impossible if you believe.

Any future plans? Maybe HL3: The musical?

Fairlith: There'd have to be a Half-Life 3 to make it into a musical...

Graeme: A moment of silence.

How many songs are in the musical? How many are original pieces?

Fairlith: None are wholly original, as the show is built on parody... The lyrics of the songs are totally original. But... Act one has seven, act two has nine, though one is just dance.

Can you come to Kansas City?!!?

Fairlith: If we have work visas!

I hear that the Adventure Core is not a blowhard nor a coward, and infact does not need to lose a few pounds. Is there any truth to this?

Graeme: There are countless facts to support that statement, oh, and also, shut up Meg.

Point taken 3

Graeme: Point TEKKEN 3, we gotta game soon and smash some bros.

All bros smashed ALL BROS

Graeme: SUPER SMASH BROSEPH AND THE TECHNICOLOR DREAMLAND BEFORE TIME

I hear Adventure and Space get a little busy on the inside.....

This is a definite Fact

What would be the best result of word getting out about how good this show is?

Graeme: Fairlith isn't here, and I find that this is more her domain, but I would love to see Geekenders find notoriety and financial success through it.

Fairlith works herself down to nothing to get these shows up because she knows Geekenders fans are passionate about their geek culture. She makes sure that her scripts have a solid story structure, emotional content, and comedy that respects each show's source material, and she still gives it spins to make it new and exciting for everyone to enjoy on top of that. I think, and this is my opinion, that it would be awesome if we could gain enough financial support in order to tour the show wherever we are wanted!

This is a great company, and it has huge aspirations, great content, and great people working for it, but it suffers from an independent theatre budget. I want to see people continuously going out and enjoying the beauty of live theatre, I never want to see live performance die because there is truly nothing else like it.

Space agrees

SPAAAAAAAaaaAAAAaaaaACE

Fairlith here! I'm back. Honestly, just... tell your friends, share it on social media. But only if you genuinely believe the show is worth it, if you genuinely enjoy it. We would be honoured. It would be so kind of you to help.

Did you insist that everyone involved in the show play through both games?

Fairlith: I asked everyone to at least watch a walk-through, but most people know the games intimately already.

Graeme: I played through both intensely.

Davin: ...They'll get it.

Just do a Portal-party, like I did with my friends : just like a LAN party, with each one on his computer trying to finish the game, and one main player on a big screen, going slow just to give the solution to the slowest players. You'll see players starting to compete to find puzzle solutions more and more, making it more engaging ! Also, if anyone gives up, he can still watch the others, and try to help.

Fairlith: That sounds super fun!

Davin: Holy S*it, awesome

Graeme: That sounds dope, we totally should have done that, but we have lots to accomplish before show date. Maybe at our cast party we'll get hammer face wastered and do this! FOR DA SCIENCE

Will the show be recorded in any way? I'd love to see the play, but have no way of getting to it.

Fairlith: It'll be released in its entirety on youtube!

Including Intermissions? WOO! Also, black comedy? I assume that's a non-american term.

It is synonymous with "Dark Comedy".

Fairlith: Hahahah. No, not intermissions. Unless you really want that. In Canada and the UK, 'black comedy' is synonymous with 'dark comedy', and implies that it's a bit more adult.

Who's has been your favourite character to play so far? And who would you like to play in the upcoming Geekenders' shows?

Graeme: Hard question, I get to play lots of awesome characters. I loved playing Scarecrow in Wizard of Bras but Wheatley has been a great challenge. I think he's my fav so far. I'd like to play a director for the Princess Bride Burlesque.

Davin: My favourite character so far is Obi-Wan, but that's the only role I've played in Geekenders so far. Outside of Geekenders my favourite would have to be a tie between Seymour Krelborn or Sir Andrew Aguecheek. I don't really know the upcoming shows, but I'm more than happy to play Obi-Wan Kenobi again.

So you won't be anywhere near me ever. Can I have a poster an play bill?

PM me your address!

I saw mention of a 'Doctor Whosical'. Any further details you're willing to share?

Fairlith: The TITLE is what inspires me. I have visions of a sort of highlights reel of the Doctor's life from the narrative viewpoint of the 12th Doctor, with a loose story around that.

Graeme: I know nothing! the Artistic Director, Fairlith, probably has more to share once she returns! I am just a lowly actor.

Will most of the show be lost on an audience member if they have no idea what Portal is?

(Compare it to, say, watching Charles' Ross one-man Lord of the Rings, having never read the books nor saw the movies)

Fairlith: I think it's clearer than one man LOTR because that's more of an in joke, we wrote Portal as a standalone so that even our mothers would understand!

Hey, guys! How did you get around the fact that Chell has no personality in the game? Is she still silent in the musical?

Davin: She has loads of personality! In the game and in the show.

Graeme: There are no facts to support that.

Fairlith: She sings her internal monologue, but doesn't speak.

Graeme: I don't know, i think that if you look at her silence as a direct defiance of GLaDOS, like, she chooses not to speak, right?

Davin: Also, being the silent protagonist in the game and the show, you can relate to her more. Like in Chrono Trigger.

Graeme: I love Chrono Trigger.

+100000000000000000000000000 internet points for mentioning and loving Chrono Trigger. Thanks for answering!

Graeme: I was jamming hard to this yesterday, and also THANKS! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpw6Lt6USrs

Davin: Oh thank god there's someone who shares affection and love for this GLORIOUS game.

Graeme: well, now I'm going to have to stop everything and listen to the entire soundtrack.

Davin: Chrono Trigger is perfect in every single way.

Graeme: I get so emotional every time I listen to wind scene and whenever I get to the part where all the robots lay the smack down on ROBO. MY FEELS MY FEELS OH ALL THE FEELS I FEEL.

Will there be cake ?

Fairlith: Yes.

Graeme: If you win the super-secret raffle you can come and eat it off of Davin and my chests.

Davin: I agree.

!!!

the cake is a lie.

Fairlith: Nooooooo it's not.

If you know when your wrap party is I could do a cake for you guys like this http://imgur.com/gallery/MFjkjHL All you have to do is ask Nick Drake (turret and nerd husband) and I would happily make you a nerdy as fuck cake

Fairlith: Is that a lie? I've been burned before.

Graeme: MMMMMMM BE STILL BY BEATING DIABETERS

Fairlith: Wait, for real?

Yes, for real! I would never lie about cake. It goes against all that is my pastry chef heart to lie about cake!

Fairlith: I might marry you.

Graeme: I just like cake. And Tiny Tina, go u/crumpocalypse_ !

Tiny Tina is my spirit animal....I want to be her when I grow up :D
Fairith be careful...I might just take you up on that <3

Graeme: Here Here, I wanna make Badonkadonks all day. squishy squishy squishy. Fairlith isn't here right now but if you leave your name, number, and a dowry, we'll get right on it.

How large is the cast of this production?

Fairlith: Fourteen!

EDIT: Wait... fifteen? WTF, I have no idea and I'm the producer. Wait. I'll check the FB event.

(Which is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/374045326081855/)

Fifteen.

Just thinking of all the gels in Portal 2, is there a risk that certain rows in the audience may get sticky?

Fairlith: Maybe. But not because of gels. ;)

Why Portal? Were there any other video game stories that tickled your fancy?

Fairlith: Valve is... a very understanding company. Also, I'm obsessed with Portal.

Graeme: I loved Portal 1 and I love Portal 2, they were both games with so much character and just in the environments, like when you see the graffiti on the walls, and you see the quirkiness inside the facility. It doesn't take itself too seriously, but the environment was done exceedingly well. Good job, Valve. Great job, Valve. EXCELLENT JOB, VALVE. Am I talking too much? I get nervous.

Davin: I was approached for the role of Cave Johnson and doing my character breakdown of him, I've absolutely fallen in love with the character. He's like... JK Simmons, obviously, I've thrown in some Dan Ackroyd, a soccer mom, but where it really stems from, my idea of him is Walt Disney meets Donald Draper. Working with this character has been one of my favourites I've ever done.

But which came first? Did you consider making a musical based off of a video game, and then choose Portal, or were you thinking about Portal and had the thought, "You know what would make a good musical?" ?

Fairlith: Portal came first. I would also like to do a Bioshock musical.

Graeme: BOOKER!

Davin: I'll play the little girl.

Graeme: Would you kindly?