Punchdrunk's Sleep No More coming to NYC in March

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 5:14pm

I just had to be the first to do a thread about the best thing I saw (twice) in the last 18 months.

Their announcement:

We are also delighted to announce the news that SLEEP NO MORE will be opening in New York in March 2011. After its successful extended run in Boston in 2009/10, we are thrilled to be working with New York producers in an amazing building in the Big Apple.

I wonder which amazing building they mean?

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 5:27pm

My first guess would be St. Ann's Warehouse, but the National Theatre of Scotland is there in March.

What other buildings in town would be suited for this unique production? Is the Irondale Center big enough?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/30/10 at 6:33pm

The Boston production was in an old school, using over 40 rooms over three or four floors.

I imagine they could sell 2/3 of the tickets to Bostonians who want to see it again.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 12/1/10 at 12:10am

I love a big theatrical event!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/1/10 at 10:25am

Says here it might be the old Sound Factory/Twilo space(s).
Sleep No More

[maesmass]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 10:19am

"I imagine they could sell 2/3 of the tickets to Bostonians who want to see it again."

Namo, you are definitely correct on that. My friend told me about this during NYE and I am already planning to go. Saw the Boston production three times and no way plan on missing this.

[Sauja]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 12:38pm

Just read this article: http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2009/10/04/sleep_no_more_allows_audience_members_to_pick_their_own_show/

It sounds fascinating. A little bit like Hotel Savoy, which PS 122 put up in the Goethe Institut in the fall but on a much broader scale. I'm really curious for those who have seen it: do you feel like you're guided enough so that you don't miss out on anything? Do you leave feeling like you HAVE to go back? Or just that you want to?

I do hope it makes it here. Now my interest is fully piqued!

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 1:43pm

Really looking forward to this.

[boydowncenter2]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 1:52pm

I am intrigued!

[hpeabody930]

Posted: 1/2/11 at 3:07pm

Sauja:
They don't really guide you around at all, you are almost entirely on your own. Sometimes an actor will take you and lead you around somewhere, but for the most part it's all up to you. Luckily, they go through the "storyline" twice so you can have 2 different takes on it. The awesome thing is that every character has a very specific reason to be there and you really can't go wrong. It's not that you *have* to go back a second time, but you will really really want to.

Sleep No More totally illuminated aspects of Macbeth for me that I had never realized before. It is brilliant and beautiful. I will definitely be making the trip down to New York to see it again.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 11:10am

The less you know about Sleep No More, the better. The only thing nervous people need to know is nobody jumps out of the dark to frighten you! And if somebody offers you their hand, TAKE IT!!

Sauja, I went to Hotel Savoy and thought it was embarrassing, perhaps I would have liked it if I hadn't already experienced Punchdrunk doing immersive theater right.


Click on Events to get tix. 6 wks only, allegedly.

Updated On: 1/3/11 at 11:10 AM

[Sauja]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 1:18pm

Thanks for the info hpeabody and FindingNamo. Much appreciated. I'll be keeping an eye out for it.

I know a lot of people hated Hotel Savoy. I was really entranced, but it's true: it was the first thing of its sort that I'd been to. On the flip side, I had a wonderful conversation with the bartender and was really moved by the skittish accountant. It didn't all come together, and with the barber, I really felt like some points were being forced on me that weren't coming out in an organic way at all, but I still really enjoyed myself. Regardless, now I just have to decide if I'm going to snag a ticket now or whether I'll hold off a touch and hope for a discount!

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 1:25pm

This is great. I've got two questions for anyone who's gone through it.

1. How long is the entire experience, in total?

2. What are the masks like? Are they like hard plastic and/or heavy and/or uncomfortable to wear for a length of time?

[CFF]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 4:31pm

1. In Boston the show ran for roughly three hours. I don't know if that's going to be the case in New York.

2. The masks can get hot, and they're a pain in the ass to wear with glasses. But they're worth it for the effect they create. If you have the option of not wearing glasses (contact lenses, say), I'd go with that.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 4:46pm

The picture looks like the Judi Dench "A Little Night Music"

[Sauja]

Posted: 1/7/11 at 4:39pm

Just saw this in an email mailing. Figured it couldn't hurt to post here! Now do I volunteer, wait for discounted tickets, or dive in and spend $75? Hmmm...

Sleep No More Volunteer Session

Punchdrunk is seeking volunteers for Sleep No More, a massive-scale, interactive theatrical experience that is the story of Shakespeare's Macbeth intertwined with the world of Hitchcock.

Part art installation, part theatre, part night out, the show is a full-sensory experience that fully transports its audience into its world and takes place within 100 rooms over six floors, an experience spilling over 100,000 square feet.

Help needed with scenery (construction and some interior design), props/furniture (shopping, craft work, and some design), costumes (shopping and some building.

Email for address
1Oa-5p, continues daily through February 7
[e-mail]
punchdrunk.org.uk/

NOTE: *Super* interesting project.

[vegas2]

Posted: 1/9/11 at 6:54pm

Thank you, FindingNamo, for posting the link. I had been eagerly awaiting the chance to buy tickets, and now I have them! That's one of the great benefits of frequenting this Board.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/10/11 at 11:01am

Sauja, a friend volunteered in Boston but only after seeing it a couple of times. When you volunteer, I believe, you're sort of stationed somewhere.

Vegas, I'm glad to be of assistance.

I'm also glad I've been here for years since I would look like Shilly McShillsteroni about this production.

Note to DrVincento2: You don't accept personal messages, even replies to your messages, which is SOOOOOOOO Sleep No More!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/11/11 at 5:23pm

http://www.sleepnomorenyc.com/

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/11/11 at 5:48pm

I'm looking at the scheduled start times; can someone who has been explain how the timing works? They're in intervals of 20 minutes, but then there's a 3 hour gap. I assume they let people in every 20 minutes, but what's with the gap? Is that how long it takes to see?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/11/11 at 8:00pm

The gap would be on two show nights. If you can get the earliest entrance time you have a longer experience. I never scored the earliest entrance block, but had a great time and saw tons of stuff. Stuff that still shows up in my dreams.

But I have an early ticket in March.

[fosca3]

Posted: 1/11/11 at 8:11pm

For anyone who has seen this -- what do you think of the idea of 'seeing' it alone?

I could probably stay over one nite when I'm seeing a matinee, and I LOVE Macbeth. It sounds like SO much fun, and I hate to miss it, but I would be by myself

Do you think it would still be enjoyable?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/11/11 at 8:31pm

So if you enter at 11:59, you might be there until like 2 a.m.? That's awesome.

I have actually never read Macbeth (I know, I fail), but I will make sure I do before I see this. I'm going to secure my tickets within the next few days, since I'll only be in New York for a small part of March.

[CFF]

Posted: 1/11/11 at 10:08pm

If that's your only option, see it alone. Absolutely. It won't affect your experience of the show, but it is fun to discuss with people afterward.
Updated On: 1/11/11 at 10:08 PM

[CFF]

Posted: 1/11/11 at 10:11pm

It's definitely worth your time to at least familiarize yourself with the plot of "Macbeth" beforehand. You may also want to visit or revisit some Hitchcock films, particularly "Vertigo" and "Rebecca"