Courtesy Photo
The Sheetfort Experience by Artist’s Laboratory Theatre is now a long-running experimental theater venue. Pictured here at local artist Matt Miller’s studio, the upcoming play “I Can Haz Sheetfort” will be built at the Fayetteville Underground April 3 and 4.
The Internet is a pretty ridiculous place.
At least that’s what the minds behind the Artist’s Laboratory Theater think. The experimental theater group is building their nomadic sheetfort venue at the Fayetteville Underground, and this time especially, the show is for the lols.
The weekend of April 3 and 4, Artist Laboratory Theater will present “I Can Haz Sheetfort,” an ode to people’s lives on the Internet.
Known for their previous experimental shows, “Found Fayetteville” and the “New Now,” the performance group has explored various community and cultural themes onstage — whether in a sheetfort or throughout Tri-Cycle Farm. Following in that tradition for “I Can Haz Sheetfort,” the ensemble will include the local talent of Willi Goehring, Morgan Hicks, Stephanie Faatz-Murry, Rachel Culp, Jason Engström and Mason Azbill.
Described as a “found” piece of theater, the ensemble worked to scavenge for real-life source material to base the play’s skits on. Many of the play’s scenes were inspired by Craigslist ads, YouTube comments, Tumblr posts, memes, listical advice columns and Internet trolls. In a nutshell, it’s a “celebration of how we are on the Internet,” Wilhite said.
“So ‘Found’ is ephemeral, but also cyber,” she said. “We take for granted that what we say is out there forever. Even if you think you deleted a comment, chances are someone took a screenshot of it. This bigger issue is just fascinating to us how we live on regardless of whether we want to or not in this legacy of the Internet.”
The play will explore questions and themes of cyber conflict, anonymity, romance and status updates among other themes. Even though the play will be a comedy, be prepared to explore a few dark depths of Internet culture as well, Wilhite said.
Whereas the “New Now” was a memorized play with improvisational elements, “I Can Haz Sheetfort” will be more laid back and performed in the style of reader’s theatre, where actors will have scripts to read from.
If you don’t consider yourself very Internet savvy, don’t worry about it, Wilhite said.
Memes, which are viral jokes or content that is reused online, will be heavily referenced as well as viral videos. Along with the popular I Can Haz Cheeseburger cat picture meme the name of the play is based on, the play will feature the likes of Slenderman — a kind of Internet boogie man — and even a cabaret number for the infamous troll commentors that seek to ruin all the fun for their own fun.
If interested in learning more, there will be two teasers for the show this week. The first will be a quick 10 minute teaser during this month’s Last Saturday, March 28, at the Fayetteville Underground starting at 7:30 p.m.. Then, next Wednesday, April 1, a few ensemble members will do a preview performance at the Backspace. Both events are free to the public.
Courtesy Photo
(From left to right) Willi Goehring, Ganelle Holman and Asa Tims perform during a past Sheetfort Experience with cop puppets.
There will be refreshments in the form of beer, wine and juice boxes, and slices of pizza from Woodstone for various affordable prices. In addition to a lot of chair seating, there will be bean bags for attendees to lounge on during the show in sheetfort style.
As for the idea of the sheetfort, the idea came from Wilhite brainstorming with her partner Futch to create a more intimate setting and personal experience. The venue first started with a theatrical performance of a play at local artist Matt Miller’s studio in Fayetteville, and attendees could either crawl or walk in.
“It really is about being together,” Wilhite said. “Our objective in building the sheetfort is to get close to the audience to feel intimate in a way you normally wouldn’t in traditional theater. That’s our bag.”
The public is invited to assist the ensemble in building the sheetfort at the Fayetteville Underground on Friday at 10 a.m.
The show starts at 8 p.m. and should go on for about an hour and 15 minutes. Tickets are $10, and can be bought in advance at artlabtheatre.com. Parking on the square is also free after 6 p.m.
