From 'Bird Box' to the Stage: A Live Horror Experience with Josh Malerman
About the Show
This is not a book reading.
It’s a live, immersive horror performance.
Join New York Times best-selling author Josh Malerman for a one-night-only theatrical experience that blends storytelling, live music, and performance into something entirely its own.
Malerman, the mind behind Bird Box, brings his latest novel Incidents Around the House to life with his troupe Wow Town in a performance that sits somewhere between a radio play, a concert, and a stage production.
Featuring live actors, original music, and Malerman himself at the center, this is a cinematic experience unfolding in real time.
As Malerman puts it: “It’s not a play. It’s not a reading. It’s something else.”
This program is free to the public thanks to the generous support of the Irma Schachter Legacy Venture Fund, which supports innovative and community-responsive programming at The Westport Library.
What to Expect
- Live theatrical performance with actors and musicians
- Original score performed in real time
- A dark, immersive storytelling experience
- Post-performance conversation with Gregory Galloway
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Why This Is Unique
Malerman is not just an author. He is also a songwriter and frontman of The High Strung, bringing a rare combination of musicality and narrative craft to the stage. This performance merges both worlds. One night. One performance. Not to be repeated. ***
About Josh Malerman
Malerman is The New York Times best-selling author of Bird Box, Incidents Around the House, and Watching Evil Dead. Adapted as a film, Bird Box was one of Netflix’s most-watched premieres ever, with more than 8- million households viewing it in the first four weeks. In addition to his successes as a writer and filmmaker, Malerman is a cartoonist and one of two singer-songwriters of the Michigan rock band The High Strung, whose song "The Luck You Got" can be heard as the theme song to the Showtime show Shameless. He lives with his wife, the artist/musician Allison Laakko, and their gazillion pets.
About Wow Town
Wow Town is a theatrical troupe co-founded by Malerman and Laakko. Thus far they've primarily done performances of almost all of Malerman's book launches, performing in chapels (Inspection), gymnasiums (Daphne), theaters, and bars. Laakko is pressing for the troupe to do a play and Malerman envisions a movie starring the entire troupe. Laakko does almost all the props, effects, stage sets, and much more, including acting and singing. The main players are: voice actor/narrator Kristi Billings, magician/actor James Driscoll Hall, actors Jeannine Coughlin and Erin Driscoll Hall, actor/director Lilli Bishop. The theatrical readings are always scored live by Byrne and Stransky, and Byrne has written two albums worth of original songs based on the Malerman books the troupe performs.
Refund Policy
Programs, prices, and dates are subject to change. Tickets are non-transferable between events but may be passed along to another attendee. All sales are final. Refunds are issued only if The Westport Library cancels an event outright. In the case of a postponement or reschedule, refunds are not guaranteed provided the event takes place within 12 months of the original date. Refunds, when applicable, are issued in the original form of payment.
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The Westport Library is committed to intellectual freedom, inclusivity, and lifelong learning. Our mission is to provide welcoming spaces for the free exchange of ideas. The Library does not endorse or condemn points of view, including any program content or the views expressed by presenters or participants.
