New York Theater: It came as a shock to lovers of immersive theater, and reportedly even to the people who work on “Sleep No More,” the show by the British theater company Punchdrunk that launched New Yorkers’ enthusiasm for immersive theater with its wordless version of “Macbeth” as if retold by Alfred Hitchcock and Isadora Duncan. On Wednesday the show’s producers announced it will be closing in the McKittrick Hotel in Chelsea on January 28, 2024 — nearly 13 years, 5,000 performances and two million attendees after its first preview there on March 7, 2011.
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I will admit that I have a vested interest in Sleep No More. One of my closest friends was one of their house managers and I saw it when I was in New York back in May. I think that it is such an interesting take on theatre as I had never seen a truly immersive piece of theatre before. I will say that I was shocked to see how much more dance it is than theatre, as there was no speaking, but I absolutely loved it (much more than I thought I would). I will say that the tickets are extremely expensive and there is not a ton of outreach to tell you when the show is about and what to expect. I am surprised that there was not more marketing done as a last effort before deciding to close the show which very little warning. I am also intrigued to see why they would not try to close part of the operation before closing the entire thing (for instance closing the restaurant or bar before the show).
I would’ve loved to see Sleep No More before it closed. I remember hearing about it a lot when coming out of Covid, as I’d been talking to many more theater friends who all were quite into it. The idea of immersive theater is so cool to me, and though I think there is something to the classic ‘sit and watch’ theater, what Sleep No More was doing is truly amazing (and also incredible how they were able to stay open and come out of covid so strong!). I remember having a conversation with someone who did immersive theater, and she mentioned that Sleep No More had a profound effect on immersive theater because versus simply walking through spaces (no touching, slightly distant from the objects and actors despite being immersive) Sleep No More was extremely interactive, and so audiences from Sleep No More may expect that from other immersive theater experiences she mentioned. I think that’s so fascinating how this one production was able to alter the standard or view of immersive and experimental theater like that, however I guess all immersive theater is so different inherently maybe it’s impossible to fully alter a perspective on all of it. Overall, it’s super interesting and congrats to Sleep No More for running for so long!
It is so so sad to hear that sleep no more is closing. I have really wanted to see it for ages but I could never find anybody to see it with me. I was planning on trying to go this summer but now I may try to go over winter break. I really enjoyed reading about the author’s ideas about the potential of immersive theater and what it can be on broadway. I don't think Broadway can ever truly embrace immersive theater. There’s the quintessential tourist experience inherent in broadway. When people see a broadway show they want bright lights and big sets and magic, because that’s what the world thinks broadway is. When a show breaks that mold it very rarely makes it to broadway and if it does the show is not there long (at least not to my knowledge). I think that’s ok though, as long as theaters outside of Broadway are valued equally, which today they are not. There’s this idea that in order to be a successful designer or actor or whatever, you have to make it to broadway. When I tell people I’m studying design they ask if I want to work on broadway or if I know anyone who has worked on broadway, as if that is the sole definition of success.
While reading this article there was a shout out the Off The Walls production of “#UglyCry.” Off the Wall Productions was one of the theatre’s that I had for a project about the theatre companies of Pittsburgh in Basic Design. I had the pleasure to see #UglyCry while it was running at the Carnegie Stage in Carnegie Pennsylvania and I have been following along with its transition to the Chain Theatre in New York City. It was one of the most interesting and unique theatre experiences I have ever been too. It was definitely immersive but in a different way then I would have defined immersive beforehand. Instead of the set immersing you into the world, it is the script itself that forces you to be immersed with the actress and playwright Katie Mack literally calling on you by name to perform or answer certain questions. I am excited to see where this play continues to go.
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