Pioneering Los Angeles-based theatre company Ferryman Collective is launching the world’s first live theatre repertory season in virtual reality!

And they’d like to invite you, not only to see their upcoming shows, but to celebrate with them as they host their first fundraiser as a 501c3 nonprofit company, next Sunday afternoon, March 22nd.

Their “Coins for the Ferryman” fundraiser and season launch party happens from noon to 4 pm, both in Pasadena and in VRChat. Here’s the link for information.

A record of innovation–and wonder

Ferryman Collective’s new repertory season is the latest step in a groundbreaking journey.

Founded in 2020, they create live shows in virtual reality, as covered in our 2023 interview.

But “shows” may not accurately describe the interactive storytelling, original immersive worlds and sometimes, life-changing messages that make up their performance experiences.

Very simply, their shows are unlike anything else a theatre audience will ever have experienced before.

Their work has garnered multiple honors, including top awards from the SXSW Film Festival, the Raindance Immersive Festival and the Kaohsiung Film Festival. Most recently, their latest show, Uncanny Alley: A New Day received two awards from the Indiecade Festival.

A kaleidoscope of talent

Each of the four co-founders brings multiple creative gifts to their work in immersive theatre.

“Music is my heart and my core,” says Ferryman Collective Co-Founder Christopher Lane Davis, a/k/a “Color”. Besides being a composer, Color is an animator, writer, performer, filmmaker, photographer and 3D designer.

“I’m happiest when I’m performing,” says Ferryman Collective Co-Founder Whitton Frank. In addition to acting in film, theatre and VR, Whitton dances, writes, directs, and DJs.

“We’re trying to perpetuate this idea of theatre reimagined,” says Ferryman Collective Co-Founder Stephen Butchko. Steve, who is co-creator of Uncanny Alley, is an award-winning producer, writer, director, and live-theatre actor.

“We thought, let’s just take one year and really focus on…trying to work on building the audience and getting more people to know a show ,” says Ferryman Collective Co-Founder Deirdre V. Lyons, of the company’s repertory season launch. An award-winning director, producer and performer in film and television as well as virtual reality, Deirdre is a speaker, teacher and coach–and she co-wrote and directed Gumball Dreams.

Deirdre, Steve, Whitton and Color talked about their work, shared some of their experiences with the four shows in the new upcoming season, and offered a preview of what’s next!

On this edition of Over Coffee®we cover:

• How the new season–and their status as a 501 (c)3 nonprofit–reflect the lessons they’ve learned since creating Ferryman Collective;

• How Color first became involved in 3D modeling and worldbuilding;

• How two resulting modeled worlds, Club Gumball and Gumball Lounge, inspired the production of Gumball Dreams;

• One creation which earned Color the title of “Magic-Bringer” with Ferryman Collective;

• How Whitton first realized that performing would be her life’s work;

• What surprised her, about her first experience performing in VR;

• How the idea of the world’s first VR repertory season came about, for Steve, Deirdre, Whitton and Color;

• What visitors will experience, at the upcoming fundraiser/launch party;

• A closer look at new project they may be producing in the near future;

• Their workshops and educational offerings;

• Their focus on getting new participants comfortable with the technology;

• How Temple of the Ferryman, their new VR Chat home world, came about;

• The reason behind the company’s name;

• A story from each founding member, about one of the shows audiences get to see in their new season;

• Details of when and how to see the shows;

• What’s next!