Jake Mace
Mothman, otherwise known as Richie Schiraldi, will bring an immersive and interactive experience when he arrives to Prague Fringe next month in The Mothman Cometh. Having been on a rave tour of Fringe festivals across the world, the show looks to explore our relationship with darkness, misunderstanding, and conspiracy, with the maxim “it’s in the darkness where the light shines brightest.”
We caught up with Richie for a pixelated pint to understand more about what audiences can expect when they take the plunge and head into the darkness with Mothman.
You can catch The Mothman Cometh as part of Prague Fringe at A Studio Rubín From May 28th – May 30th at various times (55mins). Tickets are available through the Prague Fringe Online Box Office.
Jake: Hi Richie! Before we get started, for the uninitiated reader, who/what is Mothman, and what should they be prepared for in The Mothman Cometh?
Richie: Of course! Mothman is a cryptic, humanoid creature with large wings and glowing red eyes that has been seen as a Harbinger of Doom, as it’s appeared just before major disasters. It has reportedly been seen just before the Chornobyl disaster, in Japan before the 2011 tsunamis, and more. It’s most notable North American report was in 1966 in West Virginia. Legend says, Mothman was seen atop the bridge in Point Pleasant, and the next morning it collapsed, taking many people into the river with it. Since then, it’s had many sightings, including in Chicago in 2016 (where I first caught wind of it). Some say it’s a pure evil, while others have idolized it as an icon. This show is an encounter with the Mothman – a powerful yet endearing and misunderstood creature that is here to help everyone embrace the darkness, and remind us we’re not alone in it.
Jake: The show is highly interactive – tell us about your process of creating the piece and how the audience response has been so far.
Richie: The show was originally developed as a 3 minute cabaret act for a halloween party, and then became a staple act in an absurd, cabaret-style show called Broken Planet Show in Chicago. We performed monthly in an abandoned art gallery where I performed new or altered material at every show. The goal was to use play and mystery to make talking about dark and vulnerable subjects more approachable, which led to a unique building of community around embracing the internal and external darknesses together. Being in the dark with this odd character has encouraged a beautiful emotional openness from the audience.
Each night, the audience’s live feedback affected the act and helped me develop the material over the course of 2 years until I organized all of it into an hour-long show. I have to say, this show has worked more on me than I have on it, and it still continues to push me as an artist to this day. I truly understand what some say when they mention being a vessel for the art to come through.
Everywhere I’ve brought this show, it has had such a warm and wonderful welcoming; it’s gathered a healthy-sized audience and sparked a lot of talk amongst the general public at each stop along the way! Some might say it’s gaining a cult following…
Jake: What will be the first thing the audience sees, feels, and hears as they enter the space?
Richie: Grungy, alternative rock n’ roll plays as the audience enters into a space lit dimly with house lights and a single bulb hovering above an empty stage. Haze floats in the air as we gather, and something is about to happen. I’m inspired by my love for live music, a desire for immersion, and the power of a sort of “underground” gathering.
Jake: What are you hoping the audience might take away from the experience, if anything?
Richie: I hope this show invites people to play with things that otherwise feel like we shouldn’t look at or touch; That the dark is just as important as the light, literally and introspectively. I hope it builds community, gives hope, and inspires an openness with each other.
Jake: What journey has the show been on to find itself at Prague Fringe 2026?
Richie: This show had it’s debut in Chicago in 2024, followed by a self-produced tour in 2025 through Green Bay Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, Berlin, and Philadelphia Fringe. It included a few pop-up shows in Chicago throughout the year, and ended with a Chicago homecoming show on Halloween night. With the success and momentum of that small tour, Mothman will be visiting several more cities and Fringe Festivals this year, which began with a sold out run at Asheville Fringe in March. Prague is a remarkable part of the tour, and I’m still in disbelief that it will play there!
Jake: With Prague Fringe now just around the corner, what are you most excited for?
Richie: It is a dream to travel and perform, and for Mothman to be accepted into an international program is a wonderful reason to travel, connect with international artist and introduce more people to this delightful cryptid. I also love Prague, and am grateful for an excuse to come back!
Jake: Given the themes of Binge Fringe, if your show was a beverage of any kind (alcoholic, non-alcoholic – be as creative as you like!), what would it be and why?
Richie: Mothman is a cherry-infused gin mixed with a dash of apple simple syrup, a splash of lemon juice, and topped with a sprig of rosemary. A little bit of sweet, a little bit of sour; strange enough to question your choices and delicious enough to keep coming back for more.
You can catch The Mothman Cometh as part of Prague Fringe at A Studio Rubín From May 28th – May 30th at various times (55mins). Tickets are available through the Prague Fringe Online Box Office.
Image Credit: Edge Photography
Lamesha Ruddock
