American Apparitions
A Psychogeographies project
May - September 2026
Created by Randy Baker, Kylos Brannon, Jenny McConnell Frederick, and Jonelle Walker
Delve into the ghosts, divinations, and delusions of a country on its milestone anniversary and revive long dead Americans whose presence continues to vibrate through our Capital City.
Psychogeographies projects harness the power of both the built and natural world to create a visceral piece of immersive storytelling. Each month participants receive a map and instructions to travel to a new curated location in the DC area. Along with the map, they’ll receive a box of artifacts to engage all five senses while exploring each site with story elements such as letters, music, souvenirs, or photos. From May through September, each monthly box reveals a new location and a new chapter in the ongoing story.
Subscriptions to AMERICAN APPARITIONS include the multi chapter experience as well as a ticket to a summer party and live performance that culminates the story.
"[a] season-long immersive experience, [sending] audiences on monthly excursions to lesser-traveled Washington-area sites, where landscapes — together with the contents of curated mailed packages — help conjure a mysterious overarching story that is partly set in those locations."
"an adventure of the mind and, if you wish, the body…the innovative form of art incorporates literature, music, mystery, romance, and DC’s highlights and history, all steeped in a hope for a better world.”
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What is PSYCHOGEOGRAPHIES?
“Psychogeography” is a term coined by philosopher Guy Debord in the 1950s and refers to the intersection of psychology and geography. Our own psychological experiences of a city reveal hidden places – forgotten, discarded, or marginalized aspects of an urban environment. Locations have a history, a soul, a meaning beyond the dirt and bricks that surround it. These meanings range from the historical to the aesthetic to the personal, but all of these things give the space its resonance.
FAQ
I prefer not to leave my home at this time. Can I still participate?
Yes! Each chapter will provide alternative instructions for experiencing the contents in your own home including a video that walks through the location. The “at home” version of each chapter can also serve as a way to experience each chapter if you live in another city or as a recap of your adventure after you have already experienced it.
Do I need to purchase a separate box for each member of my household?
It really depends on how you want to engage with the experience. Items in the box may be best used by one person at a time, so you may have to take turns with them, or in some cases there may be consumables. Each PSYCHOGEOGRAPHIES subscription includes one ticket for a PERFORMANCE in the summer of 2026. If you wish to share your subscription with someone, read the next FAQ.
How Can I Share a Psychogeographies Subscription with someone else?
If you both want to see ALL the Rorschach Theatre shows for the 25/26 season, you can purchase one “SEE IT ALL” subscription and one “ON STAGE” subscription on our subscription page. Both subscribers can see all the live productions (including the summer AMERICAN APPARITIONS performance) and you’ll receive one set of AMERICAN APPARITIONS boxes to share.
OR
To experience AMERICAN APPARITIONS only, purchase one “PSYCHOGEOGRAPHIES” subscription and purchase additional single tickets to the summer production when it goes on sale.
When will the chapters be sent? What’s my deadline to sign up?
New chapters will ship every four weeks between May and September 2026. You may sign up at any time and typically back orders are mailed weekly. If you sign up any time after the project has begun, you’ll receive all previous chapters in your first shipment.
Is this okay for kids?
Yes! It generally falls in the PG / PG-13 range and is great for young participants and adults alike. Whether or not kids are invested in the story itself will, of course, depend on the child and their age, but we’ve found most young participants really enjoy exploring new locations throughout their city.
How far will I have to travel to reach each month’s location?
This season all locations are in or close to downtown DC.
Do I need a car to participate in this?
All five locations, as well as the final performance location, are metro accessible. If you are unable or prefer not to travel to any chapter destination, we provide alternative at-home instructions.
When are these events happening?
Whenever you want! Certain locations have specific open/closed hours to be aware of, but generally you can launch your own experience whenever it’s convenient for you.
How long does each experience take?
While your travel time will vary based on your starting location and mode of transportation, we anticipate each experience being 15-40 minutes of content. Additionally, each expedition will come with further suggestions of optional ways to enhance your trip.
Do I have to experience the all the chapters to see the summer performance?
Nope! Anyone should be able to enjoy the performance.
Have a question that’s not answered here?
Contact us and we will get back to you as soon as we can!
MEDIA
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