During the early hours of January 28, 2009, Kerry Torres and Sam DeFrancesco plotted to start a Repo! shadowcast in Orlando after seeing the success of the Toronto Shadowcats. A post was thrown up on the official Repo! boards calling out for anyone in the Orlando area that was interested in joining up. The post included the tentative title for the cast (The Zydrate Support Network)… and then the joke title of: The Shilo Wallace Centre For Kids Who Can’t Read Good and Want to Learn to Do Other Stuff Good Too.

On January 30th, while having one of many chats on the phone, Kerry and Sam decided on the cast name of The Keyboard Samurai–drawing inspiration from Repo!’s original stage script. In the show, Shilo was very good with computers and loved playing video games, referring to herself as a “Keyboard Samurai” near the beginning of Act One. It seemed too perfect of a name to pass up. (Interestingly enough? The initials of the name (KS) are the first initials of Kerry and Sam’s names… hrm…) Also? Terrance is the only other person who gets it. “I wrote it after all.”

The first “meeting” of the cast was on February 8th. Sam, Cory, and Itzel were in attendance. S’mores were had. And it was really, really cold out in the backyard–but it was fun!

At February 25th’s meeting, “rehearsals” officially started. The SRS BLOCK was also introduced. Since then it has been used countless times to (lovingly) threaten cast members who don’t get down to business.

Sometime during March, the Ficus became Sam’s co-director. And plenty more blocking starting happening. Rehearsals were eventually moved to Garrett and Noreen’s place, and they were held practically every Sunday and Wednesday evening. This practice still goes on today.

The first Keyboard Samurai field trip happened on March 20th. The troupe made a trek down to Ft. Lauderdale to support Midnight Cinema, the first Repo! shadowcast in the US. It was a most excellent weekend! The PLAIN WHITE SHAKE was also born.

During the month of April, plenty of website-related things happened. Advertisting at FX happened. Casting was adjusted accordingly. More of the movie was blocked.

On May 9th, the KeySam held their first GeneCo “protest” at the intersection of 436 and 17/92. It was a success.

On May 12th, Sam had surgery. Tell us if you’ve found her since then, because we sure haven’t.

During the month, the movie was nearly blocked to completion. 99.8% completion, to be exact. Flyering happened at the UCF campus. Advertising continued all over the place. Some of the troupe attended JACON, a local anime convention, to promote the film and the cast. (People were Repo!-rolled.) Wolf, the director of Midnight Cinema, surprised everyone and came to visit and watch rehearsal on the evening of May 27th.

On May 29th, the KeySam had their second field trip to Ft. Lauderdale for Repo! and Rocky with Midnight Cinema. It was another most excellent weekend.

On June 13th, the KeySam and Midnight Cinema traveled to Channelside in Tampa to attend the first Unworthy Heirs show. Wackiness ensued. And now the casts will forever be known as Midnight Samurai – sister casts through thick and thin!

The Keyboard Samurai obtained their venue, the wonderful Enzian theatre located in Maitland, in early July, with their first performance slated for Saturday, August 22nd.