Palimpsest Productions’ Second Annual Gothic Cabaret will feature gruesome delights for the eyes and ears. Horror audio creators Jamieson Ridenhour and Hayley Heninger will perform a full episode of their acclaimed audio drama Palimpsest, followed by author Kellyn Carni reading from her debut YA fantasy Ricochet.
Finally, the Palimpsest team will debut their new dark fairytale, Ratcatcher, a collaboration between writer Jamieson Ridenhour, actor Hayley Heninger, composer Kevin A. Smith, and shadow puppet animator Madelyn Clements. Don’t miss this Halloween extravaganza!
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Palimpsest began in 2017 as passion project made by friends to kill time between theater productions. As the story of Anneliese and her sister Claire unfolded, the creators knew they had discovered a new favorite way to tell stories. Subsequent seasons traveled to different times and places, but always within the same house, and always centered on a woman who may or may not be what she seems.
Over the course of five seasons and seven stand-alone episodes, Palimpsest has accrued over 1.2 million downloads, been on multiple end-of-year “best of” lists, been nominated for AudioVerse awards, and been listed as an important show in the BBC’s “State of Audio Drama” report. Critics have called Palimpsest “a masterclass in atmosphere” and “audio fiction’s best foray into the Gothic.”
In 2025, creators Jamieson Ridenhour and Hayley Heninger expanded Palimpsest into a full production company specializing in audio, film, and immersive theater, with a roster of new shows beginning this Halloween.
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Kellyn Carni lives in the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina with her husband, two toddlers, dog, cat, and chickens. When she isn’t cuddling one of the aforementioned (usually not the chickens), she enjoys camping, yoga, and live music.
She works as a physical therapist assistant and loves reading and writing fantasy books. Her debut novel Ricochet released earlier this year from CamCat Books.
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Maddy Clements is a media artist & fiction writer. They are currently studying for a Bachelor’s degree in both English and Creative Writing at Warren Wilson College, and intend to pursue storytelling in as many various forms as they can.
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Kevin Smith is a composer, filmmaker, and photographer whose work reflects a deep curiosity for sound, image, and human connection. He blends traditional instruments with modern technology, aiming to transform ideas into meaningful art.
Jamieson Ridenhour & Hayley Heninger, Kellyn Carni, Maddy Clements, Kevin Smith