But the highlight of the performance was the attendance of Margot Adler, the NPR reporter. She saw the show, interviewed audience, and then had me, Chris Gibson, and Buzz Moran come into the studio for an interview for a story for Weekend Edition. But when all was said and done–the story ended up airing TODAY on All Things Considered. Amazing! For me, it really was a dream-come-true. I even sent myself an email to remind myself that “today is the best it’s ever been.” It’s true!

“Sometimes it’s important to just have an escape,” Neulander says. “Life can be hard, and I feel like right now, in the times we are in, it really can’t hurt to have an opportunity for a couple of hours — for people from 7 to 70 and older — to go in the theater and escape from their daily lives and go on a pure, unadulterated adventure.”

Not mentioned in the story, but deserving a shout-out: Ray Colgan, who came up with the idea of a sci-fi radio play at Little City back in ’96; Chad Nichols, Jessica Reisman, Julia Edwards, and Lisa D’Amour, the other writers; Graham Reynolds, composer; and of course, Tim Doyle, the artist.

This weekend we play Proctors in Schenectady for four performances, then off to New England, Delaware and New Jersey.

Complete tour info HERE.

First, we had a really successful show in May in Houston. Something like 1,500 people saw the show, including a student matinee during the day and the evening performance for the general public. We had some weird sound issues for the evening show, which was a bummer, but overall it went great. Big-time cudos to Jason Phelps for jumping into the role of Timmy for the first time and knocking it out of the park. We also did the highest per-person merchandise sales we’ve ever done: almost $3.50 per person in attendance. Incredible!

On June 10 and 11 we presented the first-ever public performance of Book Two: Robot Planet Rising. The show was most definitely a work-in-progress, told in radio-play format. It was an amazing learning experience. Almost everyone in attendance filled out surveys I had created asking them for feedback and we were able to really get a sense of the strengths and weaknesses of the show. In the broadest view, Act One played too slow. I think the reason for that is the plot is overly complex, the act wasn’t funny enough, and it’s a little unclear what the relationships between the characters were (particularly Timmy and Molly). Chad Nichols and I are meeting today for lunch to go through our collective notes on all of this. I expect we’ll do another work-in-progress presentation in December.

The artwork for the comic-book version of Book Two is coming along, though slower than I would like. WE’re just about done with issue four (of eight). I’m planning to publish them as a bundle–straight to perfect-bound trade paperback. This will save a bunch of money and since Book One is now only available as a bundle anyway, makes sense for how people are purchasing the books.

I’m also working on a series for young adults that tells Mysterion’s origin story. His name, before he became Mysterion the Magnificent, was Ned Stumble. Born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, he witnessed his father get hanged for treason when he was twelve. The first book in the series is what happens to him in the year after the hanging, when he gets adopted by a schoolmaster named Mortimer Guest. I’ve written a prologue and about two chapters. I hope to have a draft done by the end of July.

Speaking of which…

I agreed to have Joe Veltre be my book agent. He used to be an editor at Harper Collins, then a property buyer for Miramax, then an independent agent, and now the head of the Gersh’s book department. He’s a GREAT guy, total straight shooter. Our plan is to pitch the project to the big six publishing houses, knowing that I don’t really need them to bite because I have an outlet to sell the books at the shows. I’m really excited about this. Joe feels strongly about the project and I feel like I’m in great hands with him.

Next Wednesday we officially announce our 2011-12 tour. We’re going to be on the cover of Pollstar, the concert touring trade magazine. Pretty cool!

Last fall we premiered the first ever “Live-Action Graphic Novel“–The Intergalactic Nemesis Book One: Target Earth–at the Long Center in Austin to an audience of 2,100 people. Later this year it’s headed on a 25-city tour! Meanwhile, we’re already developing Book Two, premiering Summer 2012.

That’s right! There’s a sequel!

The Intergalactic Nemesis
Book Two: Robot Planet Rising

Radio Play written by Jason Neulander, Chad Nichols & Ray Colgan

Follow the continuing adventures of Pulitzer winner Molly Sloan, her intrepid assistant Timmy Mendez, and a host of new characters including:

Alphatron – Robonovia’s minister of defense
Dr. Lawrence Webster – interspacio-temporal quantum physicist
Dr. Natasha Zorokov – Webster’s assistant and Soviet spy
And a lot (and we mean a lot) of robots!

But this stuff doesn’t just grow on a tree. To make the sequel the very best it can be, we’re presenting the nascent script in radio drama format on June 10 and 11, 2011. Yes, a year early!

We’ll be workshopping the material for a week and then presenting it to a live audience. Actors Christopher Lee Gibson, Jason Phelps, and Cami Alys will read the voices, Buzz Moran will perform the sound effects, and maestro Graham Reynolds will play his original score. This will be an invaluable chance for us to dig deep into the story and characters and then get feedback from you the audience! Be among the first people ever to experience The Intergalactic Nemesis Book Two: Robot Planet Rising.

Your donation pays the personnel and offsets the cost of facility rental. Your feedback at the presentation will even help shape the direction of the final version!

Presentation dates: June 10 at 7 PM; June 11 at 2 PM and 5 PM

Presentation location: ND (5th St, just east of I-35) in Austin TX

Is it an all-ages show? You bet! It’s for the kid in everyone!

Click HERE to make it real!

The Intergalactic Nemesis Book Two: Robot Planet Rising premieres Summer 2012!

Other news…

HOUSTONITES! We arrive in May! – May 12, to be exact, at the Wortham Center, presented by the Society for the Performing Arts. It’s our first tour date and boy are we pumped! Tickets are now on sale and we expect to sell out so don’t wait!

· 2011-12 tour – This fall we’re touring to fifteen cities in the Midwest, from Austin all the way up to Duluth MN and back. Venues include the Lied Center in Lawrence KS, the Edison Theatre in St. Louis, and Bass Hall in Fort Worth. Oh, and another four cities in the Northeast, including the renowned Village East Cinema in New York City. Details HERE. Please spread the word to your Midwest and Northeast friends and family!

GRAPHIC.LY – If you haven’t already heard, you can now read the comic book on your mobile device! Thanks to the amazing people at Graphic.ly, the Nemesis comic book series comes to vivid life. This comic-book reader app is really quite amazing. Best of all, the first issue is free (as is the app to read it). If you already have the graphic.ly app, then just search for The Intergalactic Nemesis and download. If you don’t, well, just search for the graphic.ly app, then search for The Intergalactic Nemesis. Spread the word!

Dr. Lawrence Webster is one of the new characters in the sequel

STAPLE! is almost here!

The first ever two-day show is right around the corner on March 5th and 6th, and BOY, have we got TONS of great programming lined up for your entertainment and edification!

Join us on Saturday as Austin underground comics legends Mack White and Al Frank participate in a panel discussion entitled “Rangers: Austin Underground Comix” moderated by Dylan Williams of Sparkplug Comics and Tim Fish!

Also on Saturday, Adam Blatner tell us “Why My Mother Threw Out My Comic Books”, in an informative and richly-illustrated presentation about the crisis at end of the “golden age” of comics (mid 1950s) involving their perceived negative influence on the morality of America’s youth.

Sunday’s events kick off in grand style with the premier of the The Intergalactic Nemesis! Volume 2. The amazing live action graphic novel is back with new stories, new characters, some new cast members and all-new artwork by David Hutchison! Can’t wait to see it!

And don’t forget there’ll be Q&A sessions with all our awesome guests — Jill Thompson, Alex Robinson, Brian Clevinger & Scott Wegener; as well as the Comic Book Literacy Documentary (feat. James O’Barr), and an Indie Animation Panel!

Full event schedule and guest list here: http://www.staple-austin.org/guests/

And of course, that is not all!

Friday night before the show, drop by Austin Books & Comics for the FREE Pre-Party Meet & Greet! It is an awesome way to talk to your favorite creators in a casual setting.

Saturday night after STAPLE! come on down to Club Deville for the Live Art Show and KOOP Radio Benefit! A STAPLE! tradition not to be missed. Deets on the FB event page here: http://tinyurl.com/4nqjw3p

Then Sunday night, also at Club Deville, come to the Block Party Comedy Showcase, hosted by The New Movement! Got something funny you want to do on stage? Bring it! RSVP at the FB event page:

http://tinyurl.com/6krl5j2

All Pre and After parties are FREE to attend!

Admission to STAPLE! is $10 for a one-day pass, or $15 for a two-day pass and includes a badge, lanyard and 48-page souvenir program (while supplies last). Hours are Saturday, 11-6 and Sunday noon-6. Box office opens a half hour before the show.

2011-12 Tour Dates

Thursday, May 12, 2011 | 8 PM
The Wortham Center -- Cullen Theatre
Houston, Texas

Saturday, October 8, 2011 | 2 PM
Belcher Center for the Arts
Longview, Texas

Monday, October 24, 2011 | 7:30 PM
Bass Hall
Fort Worth, Texas

Saturday, October 29, 2011 | 8 PM
Lied Center of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

Friday, November 4, 2011 | 8 PM
The Overture Center for the Arts
Madison, Wisconsin

Thursday, November 10, 2011 | 7 PM
Mitchell Auditorium, College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, Minnesota

Friday, November 11, 2011 | 8 PM
Saint John’s University
Collegeville, Minnesota

Saturday, November 12, 2011 | 8 PM
University of Minnesota, Morris
Morris, Minnesota

Wednesday, November 15, 2011 | 8 PM
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, Iowa

Friday, November 18, and Saturday, November 19, 2011 | 8 PM
TWO SHOWS
The Edison Theatre
St. Louis, Missouri

Tuesday, November 22, 2011 | 8 PM
Long Center for the Performing Arts
Austin, Texas

Saturday, January 7, 2012 | 8 PM
Capitol Center for the Arts
Concord, New Hampshire

Friday-Sunday, January 13-15, 2012 | FOUR SHOWS
Proctors GE Theatre
Schenectady, New York

Thursday, January 19, 2012 | 7:30 PM
Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
Burlington, Vermont

Saturday, January 21, 2012 | 7:30 PM
The Bushnell
Hartford, Connecticut

Saturday, February 4, 2012 | 7:30 PM
Walton Arts Center
Fayetteville, Arkansas

Sunday, March 25, 2012
*TWO SHOWS: 2 PM & 7:30 PM*
Hatfield Hall, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Terre Haute, Indiana

Saturday, March 31, 2012 | 8 PM
University of Notre Dame, DeBartolo Center for the Performing Arts
Notre Dame, IN

‘Intergalactic Nemesis’ bound for tour: kxan.com