The Boundary was an immersive theatrical experience created and performed by Baltimore’s Submersive Productions, in a six week run between August to October 2023. I pitched the original concept (a choose-your-own “afterlife” experience) and was part of the Core Team of five creative directors that steered the production over the course of three years.
Audience members were invited as participants attending an “exclusive” tour of Boundry, a fictional tech company whose founders purported to have uncovered technology that would allow the ability to curate and pre-plan one’s afterlife experience. Participants were guided through Boundry’s afterlife showrooms, and were asked to give feedback and reflect on what eternal experiences they might book for themselves.
Meanwhile, through the course of the tour it became gradually more evident that the employees were concealing a number of things – including the recent disappearance of the company’s founder, Dr. Vera Sadilim. And that the technology employed to generate the afterlife scenarios might not be exactly 100% stable…
The structure of the show was somewhat complex, involving of the groups of 7-8 audience members pulsed through timed experiences in a linear, uni-directional fashion. We wanted to ensure that audience members got a chance to do some self-guided exploration, AND leave the experience with a deeply meaningful and highly personalized one-on-one interaction.
At a crucial turning point during the experience, the participants suddenly found themselves no longer in the laboratory but in a timeless, endless Waiting Room – it seemed they had inadvertently crossed over, and had to wait for their number to be called to be brought to the Bar Dö.
At the Bar Dö, one by one, each and every person who came through the experience had a personalized interaction with The Doctor, who (assisted by the Bartender) helped restore each person with the Eau De Vie, the elixir of life.
We sought out to create a space and time for people to contemplate death, existence and grief in an approachable and empathetic way. After the timed portion of each experience, audience members were invited to linger as long as they liked in the Bar Dö – play pool with the Barfly, write letters to their loved ones who had passed beyond or use the telephone booth to speak to them.
A large ensemble of creative, passionate and brilliant artists helped make this engine run as smoothly as possible. I am beyond proud of what we created and birthed into the world, and how it impacted the nearly 600 (?) people who got the chance to experience The Boundary.
Since the show’s closing, I know of a few people who went through the experience and are no longer with us. I’m not a particularly religious or highly spiritual person (ironically, coming from a person who pitched a choose-your-own-afterlife show?). Yet I can’t help but think from time to time about those who have passed – my father, my dear friend Julia among them.
I like to think that they might be seated at the Bar Dö, enjoying a celestial drink and a tune, waiting for me to join them.
Collaborators:
Core Creative Team (directorial and production leads): Kim Le, Josh Aterovis, Megan Livingston, Ursula Marcum and Glenn Ricci
Ensemble:
- Regina LaCroix: portrayed by Jenna Rossman , Betty O’Hellno
- Juno Scott – Tina Canady
- Henry Walker – Josh Hne
- Paul Thibodaux – Connor Kertiss
- Ivy Hoang – Kim Le
- Sierra Tristan – Sam Ankrom-Chickering
- Lori Brown – Marissa Dahl
- Nina Walker – Jessie Delaplaine
- Timeless Beings – Caitlin Bouxsein, Cori Dioquino, Kim Le, Megan Livingston, Alexander Scally
- Bartender – Josh Aterovis
- Dr. Vera Sadilim – Tara Cariaso , Karen Li
Crew:
- Alice – Sam Ankrom-Chickering, Andrea Clayville, Megan Livingston, Rachel Wilson
- Russ – Mara Falbo Wild
- Guus – Ursula Marcum
- Gus – Griffin DeLisle
- DJ Jüs: Glenn Ricci
Design Team: Josh Aterovis, Deana Fisher Brill, Kim Le, Megan Livingston, Ursula Marcum, Glenn Ricci
Costumes: Deana Fisher Brill
Sound: Megan Livingston, Glenn Ricci
Lighting: Glenn Ricci
Fabricators: Josh Aterovis, Aaron Barlow, Deana Fisher Brill, August Bryant, Marissa Dahl, Jessie Delaplaine, Kim Le, Ursula Marcum, Jacob Marrero, Mika J Nakano, Chris Reuther
Custom Drink Designs: Karen Li
Test Run Participants: August Bryant, Vicky Graham, Elvis Karageya, Susan Stroupe
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