The University of Southern California’s Themed Entertainment program is set to debut The Bloodhound, a fully immersive theatrical production. The event will be hosted at the USC Cinematic Arts Complex, as part of the larger USC School of Cinematic Arts.
A Cross-Disciplinary Immersive Experience
The production is a collaborative effort involving students and faculty from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, the USC School of Architecture, and the USC School of Dramatic Arts. It is described as a family-friendly experience that blends storytelling and audience participation.
Set within a 1920s New Orleans jazz bar, the narrative requires audience members to work alongside the cast to fight a common, monstrous enemy. However, the experience also introduces moral ambiguity as guests discover they have been manipulated into a deadly trap.
Bridging Themed Entertainment and Drama
Joseph Garlington, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Interactive Media & Games Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and former Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering’s Interactive Studio, emphasized the importance of environment in this art form. Garlington stated that the USC Themed Entertainment program focuses on the built worlds that guests enter, calling this production an example of artwork that combines themed entertainment place-making with the dramatic structure of an interactive play.
The show’s narrative was developed by Executive Producer and Director Talon Cruz, a graduating senior in the Themed Entertainment program. Cruz, who was originally a theater major before switching specialties, noted that the design was intended to be unexpected, evolving into an immersive dining experience characterized by a distinct setting and a sense of danger.
Production Details and Attendance
The cast and crew for the production include Talon Cruz, Clancy “B.C.” Booker, Dylan Burlingame, Adelin Conanan, Kayden Cutchins, Moustafa El-Mahdy, Sammy “Silver” Hillery, Charli Lawrence, Ava Lorelei, and Haydon Williams.
Performances are scheduled for May 12, running hourly from 1:00 p.m. To 8:00 p.m. PDT. The production will take place at the USC Cinematic Arts Complex, located at 900 West 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA.
Tickets are free to the community and are available for reservation online.
Future Implications
Given the collaborative nature of the project, this production may serve as a blueprint for future interdisciplinary projects at USC. The integration of architectural design and interactive media could lead to more complex immersive environments in upcoming student showcases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the plot of The Bloodhound?
The production is a family-friendly immersive experience set in a 1920s New Orleans jazz bar. Audience members participate by working with the cast to fight a monstrous enemy, only to realize they have been led into a deadly trap.
How can the community attend the performance?
Tickets are free to the community and can be reserved online.
Where and when is the production taking place?
The event takes place on May 12 from 1:00 p.m. To 8:00 p.m. PDT at the USC Cinematic Arts Complex, located at 900 West 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA.
Would you prefer a traditional theater seat or an immersive experience where you are part of the story?
