WHO KILLED EDGAR ALLAN POE? THE COOPING THEORY 1969 Begins Performance 8/19

DDM Productions & RPM Underground today announced dates for Poseidon Theatre Company's Who Killed Edgar Allan Poe? The Cooping Theory 1969: An Immersive Paranormal Experience. Conceived and directed by Aaron Salazar, this new spellbinding production is the only story-driven, multi-room immersive experience in the heart of Times Square and features a book by Nate Raven (who also co-directs), original score by Manuel Pelayo & Giancarlo Bonfanti with additional material by Edgar Allan Poe. Previews begin Monday, August 19that RPM Underground, 244 West 54th St. between 8th Avenue and Broadway. The official opening will be on Monday, September 16th and the run continues through November 2. www.knock3xs.com

A modern Edgar Allan Poe story meets a 1960s horror movie. The year is 1969. After you knock 3xs (three times), your journey begins. You are invited to join the gathering. A new generation of The Poe Society hosts a cocktail party to commemorate the anniversary of the mysterious death of Edgar Allan Poe. Drink, eat and mingle with The Society. The meeting commences, and the room is smudged for protection. An otherworldly medium arrives to reach out to the spirit of Poe. A seance ensues and quickly goes awry!As The Society seeks answers to Poe's unresolved death, what they find out is their own terrifying truth. What happens next? Find out for yourself.

Journey beneath Manhattan into RPM Underground, where a masterpiece of design and ambiance awaits you with a full bar available for your enjoyment throughout the experience. Cocktails, Myth, Mystery, Murder...Ghosts...experience the world and words of Edgar Allan Poe like you never have before.

Is this like a Haunted House? No. But prepare to journey into the world of the paranormal words of Edgar Allan Poe. No one will touch you or ever jump and "spook" you and your guests.

What is the cooping theory? Cooping was a form of electoral fraud in the United States during the 19thcentury by which unwilling participants were forced to vote, often several times over, for a particular candidate in an election. Generally, innocent bystanders would be grabbed off the street by so-called 'cooping gangs' or 'election gangs' working on the payroll of a political candidate and they would be kept in a room called the "coop" and given alcoholic beverages in order for them to comply. If they refused to cooperate they would be beaten or even killed. Often, their clothing would be changed to allow them to vote multiple times. Sometimes the victims would be forced to wear disguises such as wigs, fake beards or mustaches to prevent them from being recognized by voting officials at polling stations. Edgar Allan Poe is thought by some to have been the victim of cooping before his mysterious death in early October 1849.

"Nobody ever talks about this aspect of Poe's mysterious death, ever," says creator Aaron Salazar. "We can't offer an answer to this theory. We delve into the Spirit of this fallen genius, marrying the paranormal and his words to tell the tale of The Poe Society of 1969, who search for justice for their idol and hope to resolve the mystery. As the tale unfolds all around them, it's up to the audience to choose how they piece together what happened to the Society that fateful night in 1969."

The creative team features venue design by Seok Huh, sound design by Sung Oh, costumes by Samantha L. Johnson, hair and makeup design by Jeremy Gatzert. The production stage manager is Allie Marotta and the associate producer is Rachel Sheen. The production is executive produced by DDM Productions.

Performances of Who Killed Edgar Allan Poe? The Cooping Theory 1969: An Immersive Paranormal Experience are on Mondays at 7:00 pm, Wednesdays at 3:00pm and 7:00pmand Saturdays at 3:00pm and 7:00pm. The Halloween week (10/28 through 11/2) performance schedule will be: Monday at 7:00pm, Tuesday at 7:00pm, Wednesday at3:00pm and 7:00pm, Thursday (Halloween) at 8:00pm, Friday at 7:00pm and Saturday at3:00pm and 7:00pm. On the evening of Halloween, all ticketholders will be invited to a costume party contest hosted by The Poe Society.

Tickets are $75 and available for purchase online at ci.ovationtix.com/35221/production/1013243. Only 60 tickets are available per performance.

This immersive experience is 21 +. Valid ID is required to enter. There is a $25 beverage/food minimum per guest.