Students and Faculty of The Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program hosted an immersive Halloween event at the Department
Students from The Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program hosted a Haunted Seaside Carnival from October 28-29. It marked the return of the Program’s annual interactive Halloween Event to its own physical space, something which has not happened since 2018.
Current students, alumni and members of the Tisch community were invited to attend a mysterious seaside carnival at Twyp Township’s Kimera Beach where they became agents in an eternal struggle between eldritch forces and the protectors of the boardwalk. While there, they were free to explore the games on the carnival’s midway; gawk at the unusual marine life at the Twyp Aquarium; sample a succulent pie of mystery meats at the Gourmand’s Table; sit for a tarot reading at the local fortune teller, and be transformed for the Mermaid Ball at the grotto hidden under the boardwalk. Their actions and decisions would trigger one of three original songs written for the occasion.
Cycle 34 Halloween Committee Members Mel Hornyak, Chiara Nicholas, Simon Lansberg-Rodriguez and Tess Edwards led a team of students, faculty and even family members in transforming the space and devising and performing the entire experience. The Seaside Carnival featured an immersive and interactive aspect which could be experienced as a 15-minute walkthrough, and included a deeper experience for attendees who wished to learn more about the town’s story, lore, and secrets. (Since it made its first appearance in October 2017, each Cycle has contributed new details to the world of Twyp.) Additional content was available through the beta version of a custom app being developed for future installments, and both the physical environment and app featured work created by students in the Department of Photography & Imaging.
The Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program began producing immersive, interactive Halloween shows several years ago to provide students and faculty an opportunity to explore the intersection of musical theatre with games and other modes of storytelling which invite the active participation of the audience. The project quickly evolved into an opportunity to collaborate with other departments across Tisch, with the last few iterations driven in partnership with ITP/IMA. This year’s installment was conceived as a part of "Tisch is Halloween", a cross-Tisch collaboration that linked Halloween-themed locations at seven Tisch Departments in Manhattan and Brooklyn: The Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, ITP/IMA (Interactive Telecommunications Program/Interactive Media Arts), Photography & Imaging, Undergraduate Film & Television, Graduate Film, The Rita & Burton Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing, and the Office of Student Affairs.
For more information about this initiative or to get involved, please contact Department Chair Robert Lee (rl95@nyu.edu) or Department Administrator and Adjunct Faculty Danny Larsen (dhl237@nyu.edu).