SCP-2960

Description

SCP-2960 collectively designates the former cast, orchestra and crew of █████ High School’s 2008 production of Urinetown. The anomalous properties of SCP-2960 become apparent when any instance attempts to leave the auditorium or the backstage area. During any such attempt the instance will be physically stopped by an invisible barrier of force preventing further egress. As of the time of writing, all attempts to physically force an SCP-2960 instance through this barrier has been met with failure and severe injury to the subject. Anyone who was not a member of the production’s cast, orchestra or crew by closing night of the show’s run is not affected by this barrier. Foundation personnel are freely capable of entering and leaving the stage and backstage area.

At 19:00 PST every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, a male voice will play over the auditorium’s intercom, informing the cast and crew to take their places. This voice has since been identified as belonging to Liam Schmidt, █████ High School’s former drama teacher. Attempts to locate the source of the announcement have so far been met with failure.

At 19:30 PST, lighting in the auditorium will dim and begin to run through the light and sound cues from the 2008 show of Urinetown, regardless as to whether power is supplied to any involved equipment. At this point, all instances of SCP-2960 must perform their roles in the production in full costume. Failure to do so will result in the noncompliant instance being killed via some form of accident, usually involving theatre equipment or props. Following the death of an SCP-2960 instance the lights will return to normal levels until the next show date. It is at this point that any damage done to the set will automatically repair itself. In the event that all instances successfully fill their role, and the show is allowed to run its course, the lights will return to normal levels following the play’s conclusion.

Instances of SCP-2960 that have been killed due to inability to fulfill their role in the play, or due to suicide, reanimate at the beginning of the next show, provided their body has not been removed from the auditorium or backstage area. These instances will run through their lines and cues normally, but fall dead at the play’s conclusion. While their bodies remain within the auditorium or backstage area, deceased SCP-2960 instances do not show signs of decomposition despite several instances having been deceased for multiple years.

Once an instance of SCP-2960 has been killed, it is possible to remove their body from the auditorium. If such an instance was a member of the cast, during the 19:00 announcement Liam Schmidt’s voice will announce that a member of the crew or orchestra will be playing the missing role. At this point in time, the SCP-2960 instance selected to fill the missing role will enter a fugue state and will attempt to either obtain the proper costume or assemble one from available materials. They will then act out the role they have been assigned for that night’s show. All lines spoken by a replacement instance are projected using the voice of the missing instance.

Bodies of deceased instances of SCP-2960 that have been removed from the auditorium or backstage area will decompose normally. However, once these bodies are returned to the auditorium or backstage area, they will immediately regenerate all decomposed tissue and reanimate at the next show. Attempts to identify the source of this reanimation and regeneration have so far been inconclusive, as reanimated SCP-2960 instances are hostile to any personnel attempting to prevent completion of the show.

Attempts at communication with reanimated instances by Foundation personnel have so far been met with failure. All reanimated instances do not acknowledge any verbal communication that does not originate from a member of the cast. When addressed by a cast member, reanimated instances will act and address the individual fully in character. As a result, attempts at communication with reanimated instances using a living cast member as a proxy have had limited success.

Medical exams of living SCP-2960 instances by Foundation medical personnel have shown that these instances have stopped aging. Investigation into the cause of this phenomenon has so far been inconclusive. It is currently hypothesized that all instances of SCP-2960 can live indefinitely provided proper nutrition is met.

Attempts at stopping a show through technical sabotage by the living SCP-2960 instances and Foundation personnel have had limited success. Should a given sabotage attempt disable a crucial piece of equipment on a show night, Liam Schmidt’s voice will immediately announce that the evening’s show has been cancelled due to technical difficulties. At the end of this announcement, all equipment damage will then repair itself. Attempts at sabotaging the same equipment in the same manner for a second time have been met with failure as the damaged equipment will immediately self-repair.

Instance Number Name Role in Production Date of Termination Cause SCP-2960-1 William █████ Joseph “Old Man” Strong 21/11/2008 Crushed by lighting fixture. SCP-2960-2 Eric ████ Senator Fipp 22/11/2008 Electrocution from backstage lighting. SCP-2960-3 Cameron ██████ Orchestra member 22/11/2008 Electrocution from backstage lighting. SCP-2960-8 Sarah █████ Soupy Sue 22/11/2008 Electrocution from backstage lighting. SCP-2960-12 Lilly ████████ Orchestra member 13/2/2009 Suicide. (Nail Gun wound to head.) SCP-2960-14 Howard █████ Sound Board 15/3/2009 Lacerations from technician’s booth windows shattering. SCP-2960-18 Lilly ████████ Run Crew 29/3/2009 Fall after catwalk collapsed SCP-2960-19 James ████ Stage Manager 11/4/2009 Suicide. (Hung from power cord.) SCP-2960-21 Thomas █████ Asst. Stage Manager 11/4/2009 Suicide. (Hung from power cord.) SCP-2960-22 Daniel ███ Hot Blades Harry 11/4/2009 Suicide. (Hung from power cord.) SCP-2960-23 Cory ██████ Mr McQueen 11/4/2009 Suicide. (Hung from power cord.) SCP-2960-25 Janice █████ Spotlight 11/4/2009 Suicide. (Hung from power cord.) SCP-2960-28 Alice ████████ Josephine "Ma" Strong 5/7/2009 Crushed under falling scenery. SCP-2960-32 Jason ████ Bobby Strong 17/11/2010 Suicide. (Overdose on ibuprofen) SCP-2960-36 Jackson ██████ Caldwell B. Cladwell 15/11/2012 Impaled by falling iron pipe.

Addendum 2960-B: Transcript of Liam Schmidt’s Message
The following voice-message was left on the answering machine of Mrs. Herring, █████ High School’s studio art teacher on November 10th, 2008.

Hey Jill, it's Liam.

Hey, so, I heard you aren't gonna be able to make any of the shows this time, which, I mean, that's a shame, really. You know, this is the best cast and crew I think I've ever had. I dunno, maybe the best I'll ever have.

I mean, they all just fit their roles so perfectly, you know? When I watch them perform, like, it just, it takes my breath away, really. If I didn't know these kids, I'd tell you that they are their character. Plus, I mean, hell, the set is gorgeous, crew is like clockwork, and, uh, hell, even the orchestra just, it's brilliant. It's all brilliant.

I just, you know, it's a shame that it's got to end, right? I mean, Christ, for some of these kids, all they've got is the theatre… it's funny, I guess, and kind of sad, cause this might be the best thing they do with their lives, you know, 'cause they don't have the money for college, or the grades.

Honestly, I really just want them to be stars, you know? Like, uh, be able to make a life out of this. It would be… it'd be the best thing for them, I think, I dunno, maybe I'm just rambling.

Anyway, lemme know if your schedule changes or something, I'd really love to see you there. Old college friend of mine is coming to the final show, and I really want you guys to meet, think you have a lot in common.

So yeah, uh, call me back, if you get the chance. Ok. Bye.

As of 25/11/2008, investigation into the whereabouts of Liam Schmidt is still ongoing.

Addendum 2960-C: UPDATE" id="">Addendum 2960-A: Log of SCP-2960 Instance Termination