3 Immersive Dramatic Experiences Not To Miss-2 In New York, 1 In Paris

Forbes

a day ago

In one section of the journey in Viola's Room, the group of six encounter a banquet. Marc J. Franklin
Watching a theatrical production is not enough anymore. Audiences are increasingly becoming part of the show.
When preview performances begin tomorrow for Masquerade, the new immersive production of Phantom of the Opera , aspects different from the Gaston Leroux novel based- Andrew Lloyd Webber musical will be visible immediately. For one, it will be a far better dressed crowd than usual since attendees are instructed to dress 'extravagantly' in black, white or silver formal or cocktail attire (but no high heels) and wear a masquerade mask (the staff will have handouts, though, if ticketholders arrive without one). And instead of the setting of a Broadway theater, this show takes place in a reconfigured five story building on West 57th Street that formerly housed the art supply store Lee's Art Shop. In that, it echoes the McKittrick Hotel, the six-story building in far west Chelsea that was the home of the immersive production that really set fire to this trend: Sleep No More , a limited run that ultimately ran for 14 years, closing this January.
Costumes by Emilio Sosa and masks by Nicola Formichetti from MASQUERADE. César Buitrago for MASQUERADE
This setting is constructed to resemble the Paris Opera House complete with the famous chandelier composed of 30,000 crystals provided by Preciosa, the production's 'Official Crystal Partner' as well as the catacombs below (the reason for no high heels; too dangerous to walk.) Within it, audience members are meant to pursue the Opera Ghost through the various floors, learning about his influence over Christine and hearing the original musical's songs sometimes inches from the cast member performing them. Some cast members know that score extremely well: they were principals in the original musical.
Ticketholders to Masquerade are required to bring a mask or are provided one if they forget. But it will likely not be as elaborate as this cast member's mask designed by Nicola Formichetti. César Buitrago for MASQUERADE
Interest in the show is so high that the preview period sold out within hours but the run has been extended with tickets now on sale for performances September 9 through October 19. The evening performances are adults only but there are a few special Saturday and Sunday matinees for 16 year olds and above.
The bedroom of the main character in Viola's Room. Marc J. Franklin
Over at The Shed in Hudson Yards, Punchdrunk, the company that created Sleep No More is at it again with Viola's Room, a particular favorite of Felix Barrett, the company's artistic director. Based on The Moon Slave , a turn of the 20th century Gothic story by author Barry Pain, it's a more linear production than Sleep No More : you're moving forward although in relative darkness guided by low level light cues through a labyrinth of passageways, sometimes with squishy walls closing in on you. You can't wear high heels here either; in fact you can't wear shoes at all, a directive which becomes clearer in the second half of the journey as your feet encounter uneven, sometimes gritty surfaces and sand as part of the story.
Your guide for all this is the hypnotic voice of actress Helena Bonham Carter on noise canceling headphones, revealing a tale of an orphaned princess betrothed to a prince she doesn't want to marry and her amblings from the palace into a garden maze to dance under the spell of the moon. But you also start in the room of a young girl growing up in the 90's (cue Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden and a poster of Tori Amos among other memorabilia), a room that you return to as part of the meandering path but there are always changes in it when you do. The story is operating on two levels with so many sensory infusions (visuals, sounds, scents) that you don't always know in whose story you're moving. You're often also too busy trying to find the next doorway or wall opening to really try to figure it out at the same time. All in all, it's a dreamlike journey-you just go with it- and one with so many stimulations that it should be experienced twice at least to take it all in. The running time is about 50 minutes and the production also runs until October 19.
Famous Paris landmarks provide the setting for an upcoming three day immersive experience created by the upscale travel company Ariodante. Leonard Cotte Solving A Mystery In The Landmarks of Paris
Coming this fall in Paris, in the way that the Olympics Opening Ceremony used the city as a setting, the luxe travel company Ariodante plans to use it to stage a three day experience called The Queen's Lost Diamonds . Here, the participants are even more involved in the production because there's a mystery around a royal scandal and the guests are the ones solving it, traversing the city, venturing into parts of landmarks usually not open to the public and questioning historical figures played by actors. There are also promised challenges for aspiring daredevils. Tickets aren't being placed on public sale and very few other details are being released in advance. Would-be participants need to apply and prices start at $627,000; the exact price will be determined by the path the participant takes—each will be individually tailored. No exact dates have been announced yet but the time frame is expected to be October-November. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes These 4 New York Hotels Get You Into The Hottest Broadway Shows By Laurie Werner Forbes Discover Berlin Like A Local: An Expert's Guide To Summer In The City By Laurie Werner Forbes Unearth Dinosaur Fossils On Global Digs With Dinosaur Trips By Laurie Werner Forbes Chase Sapphire Reserve Announces New Restaurant And Celebrity Events By Laurie Werner