Performing Arts Feature | Chicago Reader: Windy City Playhouse's 2018-2019 production of Southern Gothic was not the first and not the only immersive theater production in town, but it is among the first to achieve a sustained high profile and perhaps the longest run at some 22 months. It earned Jeff Awards for its director, David Bell, scenic designer, Scott Davis, and properties designer, Eleanor Kahn. Its success helped put the then-five-year-old theater firmly on the map, and drew the attention of a wider audience to this form of theater loosely termed "immersive."
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Ok so I was immediately surprised by this article; its very uncommon in my experience to hear about an immersive theater experience to last a year, let alone almost two. Getting actors to stay on board for that long is unlikely, so doing this long of a run probably requires a fair amount of shifting actors around and re-rehearsing to make sure everything is running as smoothly as the first cast. Also, the costume and scenic design of this show looks amazing even from just the one photo at the beginning of the article. In terms of the design for immersive theater, I think that it is important for it to be somewhat comfortable even if the overall atmosphere is supposed to be off putting or uncomfortable so that the audience feels that they have the agency to move around the space. Reading about their rehearsal process is also really fascinating because an effective rehearsal period is so important for the overall success of immersive theater, and I think that the way that they rehearsed for this show is a really effective way to do it.
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