XSR:Die! was the second show Kurt wrote in the Living Black & White™ series, and it featured some of his finest work, both as a playwright and an actor. The setting was backstage at a Broadway theatre on the eve of Opening Night of a new play, giving Harry Hunsacker prime real estate on which to play out his dreams of becoming a famous actor.
As a spoof of murder-mysteries of the 1930s and 1940s, XSR:Die! had everything: the prima donna whose star is fading; the ingenue; the temperamental director; Nazi spies; British spies; American spies; hypnotism; a seance; a message from the great beyond. Everyone looked suspicious and no one was who they appeared to be!
XSR: DIE! January 2013 production at the Eiseman Center
The question was: Would people come out to see a play whose name they couldn’t pronounce? The title is an example of the shorthand a stage manager might use in their script to capture an actor’s assigned blocking (movement). In this case, XSR:Die! meant that the actor was to cross to stage right (the right side of the stage from the actor’s perspective) and then die. But only theatre insiders would know that. We were relying on the hope that the first two Living Black & White™ productions (A Trifle Dead! in both 1986 and 1987) had built a loyal audience that would come see a sequel on faith.
Our audience did not disappoint. It seemed they couldn’t get enough of the adventures of Harry, Nigel Grouse, and Lt. Foster! We had another record-setting hit on our hands, and we were unknowingly laying the foundation for a decades-long North Texas tradition.
It’s humbling to think back to the origins of the Living Black & White™ shows and realize how so much has changed while so much has stayed the same. The relationship between Harry, Nigel, and Foster was formed at the beginning, and every show stays true to that dynamic. The special effects, however, have grown more sophisticated, immersing our audience even more fully into the illusion of a two-dimensional film.
One thing that will never change is the love and respect we have for you, our audience. It is your enjoyment of these plays that makes it worth the time and investment to do them! And we love hearing from veterans and newcomers alike! We couldn’t do this without you, and we’re committed to continuing for as long as you’ll have us.