Reyna Velarde’s reputation precedes her: The Chainsaw Queen, the legendary extreme haunt actress. I’ve heard about her, but I’ve never…well… “worked” with her before tonight. While I wait for the car to pick myself and my group up, the waivers, and the inevitable blindfold as we’re walked to our final destination, to say I’m nervous is an understatement. I’m here for BL4KM4SS’ M90sN, and I have no idea what to expect, but I know this is Reyna’s show, and that’s enough to bring a shake to my step.  Little do I know that what’s to come is a much bigger surprise than I expected: a haunting, difficult, and shockingly beautiful look at one woman’s personal nightmare.

M90sN, or My ’90s Nightmare, is Velarde’s one-woman horror story, the story of her formative years, told with remarkable effect through the immersive-theater medium. The slow realization that what I’m watching, what I’m experiencing, is her own difficult and heartbreakingly true story, replaces my shaky steps with a weakness in my knees; she holds a mirror to many of my own experiences, slowly evolving her performance into a shared, cathartic whirlwind. The show runs about two hours, and Velarde goes it alone, only bolstered by two assistants. And while the experience describes violence, it by no means contains the physicality one might expect. The content is delivered instead with a deliberately gentle hand.

Before now, and in my prior experiences with BL4KM4SS, I’ve been continually impressed with the group’s ability to reinvigorate the concept of “augmented reality”  with their own distinct brand of storytelling. Gripping, intense shows like Pathology and the M series have brought new and long-time fans of personal physical theater into the cleverly orchestrated world they’ve created. These projects have been collaborative efforts between Velarde/Paul Stephen Edwards, and Alex C. James, respectively, but M90sN is Velarde’s alone, written and directed by her in a way that only her personal experiences can dictate, and supported brilliantly by the BL4KM4SS team.

From a technical standpoint, M90sN takes a distinct and unique approach to storytelling. Velarde’s performance and narration are supported by visual mediums; long-form home videos and photographs from her own collection are projected on the walls throughout the experience, enhancing the dark truth of her words through intimate sight and sound. Edwards and performer Tristan Sinns are on hand to execute the visuals and guide participants through the literal and figurative darkness as Velarde’s story progresses, but the constant is always her, as it should be.

Velarde’s story is a difficult one, one which I won’t disclose here; much better to experience it along with her, but I’ll say it’s a remarkable and all too familiar tale for some. That Velarde is willing and able to retell it over and over, for new audiences, fine-tuning a performance that must be simultaneously as freeing as it is agonizing for her, is nothing short of a triumph. It’s not so much commitment to the narrative – she lived this – but a willingness to lay bare her own emotions, tragedy, and to purge herself of her own demons, that makes M90sN and Velarde herself a truly special experience.

Everyone has their own story, some harder to tell than others, but not everyone invites others, strangers even, into the space of their mind to share it with them. I find my knees growing stronger with each step I take through Velarde’s life, my heart growing achingly fuller through this shared act with her. I want to take her hands and tell her that I understand, that she and I and everyone she’s welcomed here are the same now. I want to tell her what this meant to me. I suppose I have. Everyone has their own nightmare, a darkness in their past that colors their future. But here, in this safe space, surrounded by strangers, now comrades in arms, Reyna Velarde is finally, determinedly, awake.

M90sN has concluded its run, but Velarde plans to bring her story to the stage in 2020. For more information on upcoming shows, follow BL4KM4SS on Instagram; email them at [email protected] to apply. Once your application is approved, you will receive show information before anyone else, priority registration, and select discounts. Make sure to subscribe to our Event Calendar for more immersive and horror experiences throughout the year.

From Reyna Velarde writer/director of M90sN –

“I wanted to tell my story. Through acting class I worked on making this show for stage. Since I’ve been working in immersive theater for the last 5 years, I thought ‘why not bring my story to immersive theater?’ A unique way of storytelling, using my stage and immersive training to bring my story to life. It was a mystery as to how participants would respond. I am thankful for the responses I have received. I want to encourage everyone who participated to share my stories, share their stories, and listen to the stories that have not yet been told. I am also thankful to have a supportive group of co-founders, Alex C. James & Amori Stewart, who allowed me to have a voice through BL4KM4SS. My story was hard to tell, over and over again. I would rather physically torment you, because emotional torment, torments me. I plan to take this story to the stage in the future. I would like to invite all M90sN participates to attend as special guests. We will send invitations to each participant next year. I would like to thank my co-director and partner, Paul Stephen Edwards- for helping me produce my show, for creating the visuals to tell my story, and for enduring the pain with me. Thank you Tristan Sinns for giving me the space and support to tell my story. You are a true loyal friend. Thank you to all the voices who encouraged me to tell my story. ”

BL4KM4SS has available bookings this Saturday.

To apply, email an inquiry at [email protected]

Return your application quick to book an appointment. Each F0UND3R reviews every application. Applicants must received the approval of all 4 before being invited to an event.

CLAUSEN: INAUGURATION (A side quest in the M-series)
The first time is always messy. Venture through this 30-minute, solo experience for $125. Two interactive films and a one-of-a-kind t-shirt is included.
11/23- 10pm and 11pm
12/13- 7pm

M:P4RT II
Continue your journey with Clausen and Baker in the next part of “M”, in a 50-minute solo experience for $140. Three interactive films and a exclusive black t-shirt included.
12/28-  9:20
1/10- 11:40
1/11- 10:30, 11:40
1/17- 10:30- 11:40
1/18- 7,  9:20, 10:30, 11:40-

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