COMING SOON: Murder in La La Land

The Drama Desk nominated Live in Theatre has been crafting interactive work since 2009, with a focus on creating dramas and mysteries that play out through the active participation of guests.

During the height of the pandemic, the company pivoted first to online productions before returning to private bookings. Now, after a years long hiatus, Live in Theatre has crafted a new public facing show.

We checked in with Carlo D’Amore, Director and Co-Writer about the new show which runs July 11 — August 4, 2024.

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NO PROSCENIUM: Tell us a little bit about your experience! What’s it about? What makes it immersive?

Carlo D’Amore: “Murder in La La Land” is set in a 1950s Hollywood film studio called Summit Pictures, and the audience plays members of the backstage production crews. There’s also an additional component to the work that Live in Theater creates. We are interactive. When developing new work, we ask: How do we get a non-rehearsed participant (the audience) to play with abandon? Audiences can play as much or as little as they want to, but what they say and do will shape the experience. Think of it like a real murder investigation, where you (the audience) play a pivotal role!

In “Murder in La La Land” the premise is that last night, Sebastian Black, a young writer, was found dead. Was it murder, or did he break under the pressure of his newfound fame? The audience will travel through the entire film studio, searching for clues and objects that might reveal what happened while interrogating the decadent and debaucherous La La Land elites. It’s like “Sleep No More” if the characters saw you, spoke to you, and engaged directly with you!

NP: What was the inspiration for your upcoming experience?

CD: When I started directing, I was lucky to work with a fantastic film actress — a movie star who is no longer with us. She was also incredibly gorgeous and rich, yet she lived in a constant state of anxiety. Would her looks hold up? Would she be able to provide for the people who had started to depend on her? The more she worked, the more miserable she became.

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I’m fascinated by the hunt for that elusive yellow dragon — fame. Fame is evasive and, at best, short-lived. And I get it — who wouldn’t want the accolades, the respect, the adoration of thousands, possibly millions? While that kind of success is something to try and achieve, there is duality in all things, and the flip side of fame can be dark, lonely, and full of heartache. My relationship with her was the inspiration for “Murder in La La Land.” In this experience, all of the characters, in one way or another, are on a quest to find the yellow dragon of Fame and hold on to it forever!

NP: What do you think fans of immersive will find most interesting about this latest experience?

CD: We don’t play farce; the focus is always on the reality of the event, in this case, murder, and the heightened emotional states of those affected by it. This is heightened drama with tons of comedy sprinkled throughout. We immerse you in the world and actively engage with you. This is very rare in immersive experiences because doing narrative storytelling is hard; that’s why so many companies do dance- or movement-based work. Live in Theater has always put story and character first. I know audience engagement will be full-throttle!

NP: Once you started designing and testing what did you discover about this experience that was unexpected?

CD: Audiences love to dress up in 1950s style. The appeal of old Hollywood is universal. What was unexpected was that when we started developing this piece during the COVID-19 lockdown, we sold a virtual version of this experience thousands of times to individuals worldwide! The world of the rich and famous is a fascinating world to explore.

NP: What can fans who are coming to this, or thinking about coming to this, do to get into the mood of the experience?

CD: Dress up in 1950s style, and come ready to play! Watching a classic film from the 1950s is highly encouraged to get in the mood, or listen to some big band music.

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