Close Encounters of the Hairy Kind 2022 Revival was an official Reader’s Theatre revival of the 2019 classic, written and directed by Monica Dwyer. It opened as part of Ridge Writers’ Weird Weekend 2022 in October as our 31st Master Mystery Production and reunited much of the original cast. While camping under the stars, a group of strangers gather about the fire to swap stories about Bigfoot in hopes of finding connections and establishing a sanctuary. But not everyone is there to kumbaya about the hairy legend as friendships are fractured, business deals are brokered, secrets are spilled, and a traitor appears in their midst. Who would want to capture Bigfoot?

You’ve never heard a campfire story like this before. Under dazzling starlight and lit only with the flickering glow of a fire, a group has gathered to tell their tales about several close encounters of the hairy kind. Invited to the campfire conference are those that have had Bigfoot sightings. They come from all walks of life. Some are local. Some are visitors. Some sightings are older. Some are very recent. All the host of this midnight meeting wishes is to garner enough positive publicity in an attempt to make the area a Bigfoot sanctuary. But a safe haven for Bigfoot is the last thing on someone’s list. While stories are shared, mountains are scoured, maps are plotted, and clues are hunted, a treacherous traitor to the cause will be on a very different kind of hunt. Who could it be? Where is Bigfoot? Is there any way to save him? Part of Weird Weekend 2022, you are specially invited to our campfire conference to track both the legend and the defector, and make the mountains safe for Bigfeet everywhere. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to have a close encounter of your very own.

Status: AVAILABLE

Body Count: Zero, Non-murder mystery

Mechanics: Showstopper production with a large cast, numerous set pieces, and specialty lighting and costume design necessary. Works better as a partnership show. Will require author contract and negotiations with author on pay.

Blogs:

Post Mortem: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE HAIRY KIND 2022 REVIVAL