I have co-created and written several months-long, transmedia promotions whose multi-branching storylines have accumulated in some of the most critically acclaimed live experiences in the world.
Along with the overwhelming fan and critic support, there have been three academic papers written about the work.
The Reviews
"A dramatically engaging, layered story experience that breathed new life into the ideas of transmedia storytelling, it raised the bar for the kind of emotional experiences that people can expect from the world of immersive theater..."
"Two years ago, we reviewed The Tension Experience: Ascension by opening up with this line: “Wonder what that odd crashing sound you heard in the background of your life was this weekend? That was the sound of every theatrical norm in the city of Los Angeles being destroyed.” ...have returned to again, smash what we think we know and can achieve with theatre, to the ground. "
"It promises guests a series of choices that morph the narrative as they're made, using a spiderweb of a script that employs about 40 characters and exceeds 400 pages."
"What you choose dictates your own triumph or tragedy; few productions so deftly maintain narrative control while still granting such autonomy to their guests."
"...an evening that’s part play, part choose-your-own-adventure and wholly terrifying...Every audience member gets his or her own tense experience and the cast members enact multiple plot lines from a 400 page script. The coordination is mind-boggling."
"In Los Angeles, where superficial, over-hyped Hollywood is still king, The Tension Experience is the grittiest, most authentic production this city has seen to date—and I highly recommend you GO."
"The dialog in Tension's 400-page script, enacted by 40 to 60 actors, is sophisticated, not dumbed-down. Every room has a message, whether it's commenting on our complacency and distraction, or our own mortality."
"It’ll push your boundaries and your buttons through inspired narrative...."
"...completely and utterly flawless... We’ve never seen anything like it and, if you’re able to, seize the opportunity whilst you can! Just go and give yourself over to the Theatre, you won’t regret it!"
"...thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing."
"...wasn't just an immersive theater show, or clever alternate reality game, or a haunted house in Boyle Heights - it was a life-changing amalgamation of all three."
"beautiful, funny and engaging."
"The narrative track I experienced achieved the delicate balancing act of offsetting truly hilarious moments with unexpected scenes of dramatic intrigue."
"In plain English: I had fun.... grizzly, melodramatic fun."
The Experiences franchise
The franchise has partnered with the Russo Brothers (Captain America, The Avengers) to create several permanent immersive locations.
THE TENSION EXPERIENCE
Nearly thousands of pages of scripted content shaped this year-long transmedia ARG and three-hour live experience that explored themes of faceless global enterprise, social media conformity, and digital addictions. The live performance ran for months, included over 50 actors, and was one of the most critically acclaimed pieces of modern immersive theater.
THEATRE MACABRE
For this ambitious, multi-genre 2+ hour interactive live experience set against the backdrop of Paris’ Grand Guignol theater, I oversaw and mentored two additional writers. Ten unique narrative paths offered separate and specific A, B and, sometimes, C endings.