Attempting to describe the setting for her Neighborhood Theatre Group’s annual Black Cat show, group co-founder Kristin Anne Danko said audience members can expect similar vibes to a ‘90s TV classic anthology series that aired on Nickelodeon.

“They should expect horror stories—it's going to be a little scary, a little silly, and it should get everyone in the mood for Halloween,” Danko said of the upcoming production of Black Cat: Folklore. “A good thing to think about is something like Are You Afraid of the Dark?”

Regardless of whether you’re a fan of scary campfire stories or nostalgia television programming, the Ypsilanti nonprofit theater company’s annual fall production aims to provide an immersive experience, Danko said, with “campfire seating” available for audience members who want to sit close to the stage.

The Neighborhood Theatre Group has been producing “theatre from scratch” since 2015, Danko said, performing plays, musicals, sketch comedy, and even short films in recent years. Black Cat: Folklore is the ensemble theater group’s latest devised production, written entirely by its eight-person cast, along with Danko, Director Marisa Dluge and ensemble members A.M. Dean, Kim Gray, and Aeron C. Wade. Shows are scheduled for October 17-19 and 23-25 at The Back Office Studio in Ypsilanti.

The production’s scary stories are told behind the backdrop of the last day of a summer camp, with camp counselors gathering around the fire to tell folk horror tales. Cast members for Black Cat: Folklore include Kylista Geiger, Jennifer Jakubowski, Muthu Jayatissa, Jessica Lee, Patrice Linman, Greg Pizzino, Josh Stewart, and Greg Woodring. 

The actors will each play multiple characters and do costume changes on stage, Danko said, while the production will include elements of folk-horror storytelling, as well as some dancing and original songs. In total, Danko said there are around 17 stories‚some that are songs and some that are longer scenes—including some famous folk tales like Tailypo, Tommy Knockers, and Ghost Train.

Danko said the theater group builds its production from scratch by devising a theme and constructing stories around it. Once the themes are separated into categories, members begin writing outlines, monologues, poems, lyrics, or entire scenes.

“We would all revise and edit together until we had a solid script,” Danko said. “If someone wrote lyrics, another might be inspired to write the music. If someone wrote an outline, someone else might write the scene. It's extremely collaborative.”

The production is one of four shows the theater group puts on annually, Danko said. Several others in the 60-person ensemble help with everything from acting and music to set designs and builds, with nearly all members of the group hailing from Ypsilanti.

“It's multidisciplinary theater by its nature, so we have visual artists or musicians in the ensemble,” Danko said. “It's a big ensemble that helps out on each production.”

Danko said individuals get involved with Neighborhood Theatre Group by reaching out or by seeing a show and wanting to get involved. The troupe also teaches beginning acting and playwriting classes that can bring in new members.

"Sometimes people reach out to volunteer, and we bring them in to help on a show,” Danko said. “Other times, people see a show and want to get involved. We don't really recruit people; they just magically show up. The main thing to know is that we approach everything through an educational and collaborative lens. If you've never worked on a show before, we'll help you. If you've never devised before, we'll walk you through it.”

Martin Slagter is a writer and reporter with 18 years of experience in print and digital media. He also writes about Michigan-based music in his weekly newsletter Radio Amor.  

Neighborhood Theatre Group’s “Black Cat: Folklore” runs October 17-19 and 23-25 at The Back Office Studio, 13 North Washington Street, Ypsilanti. Tickets are $15 online, $20 at the door, and $12 for students. Showtimes are 8 pm, except for the Sunday, October 19 presentation, which will start at 2 pm. Special “campfire floor seating” must be purchased online.