

The venue itself is named after the hotel from Hitchcock's Vertigo, and the name of its in-house bar, the Manderley Bar, is pulled from his film Rebecca.Īs Punchdrunk and Emursive, the immersive theatre companies that co-created and produced Sleep No More, state on the show's own website, the McKittrick was a 1930s luxury hotel that ended up shuttered just before its planned opening, and was left unused until they brought Sleep No More there. There are some references to the Paisley witch trials that took place in 1697 Scotland, and the design is inspired by film noir (actors dress in 1930s period costume) and Alfred Hitchcock's work. Past guests have included Sara Bareilles, Neil Patrick Harris, and Emma Stone.Īnother way Sleep No More differs from a traditional Macbeth is that this version incorporates diverse historical influences. You might also spot a celebrity, as famous actors make guest appearances from time to time. And while you're walking around, the actors are, too, so you can follow them and discover even more secret locales - though they might take you there themselves first. There's little dialogue, though the scenes are reenacted with movement. Audience members are given masks and then left to wander among the floors of the hotel at their own pace, encountering different scenes from the show throughout. Sleep No More is a show that reimagines Shakespeare's Macbeth as a walkthrough experience in Manhattan's McKittrick Hotel. Get Sleep No More tickets on New York Theatre Guide. Either forgo the specs, wear contact lenses, or maybe try convincing them to let you wear your own, eyeglass-friendly headpiece.The award-winning immersive experience Sleep No More has been going strong in New York since 2011. But there's just one problem: If you wear eyeglasses, the masks simply don't work they're uncomfortable and cut off your nasal passages unless you tilt them in such away that you can barely see. Aesthetically, it's a terrific idea, and helps discourage any forbidden chatter during the performance. Lose the eyeglasses: Before you enter what the performers refer to as "the experience," you're handed a white Guy Fawkes-esque mask, which all spectators are required to wear as long as they're outside the bar area.You'll surely encounter each other again in places where you least expect it, and at the end you'll have two separate stories to swap. As communal as the experience is, it's fundamentally an isolated one, so don't get hung up sticking with your companion. But if you're attending with a friend, there can be a temptation to try and coordinate your decisions about where to go and what to see. Get lost: Talking is forbidden during Sleep No More-a crucial rule that lets the magical atmosphere take hold without interruption.

In the immortal words of Otto the bus driver, you don't need need drugs to enjoy this-just to enhance it! With its spooky lighting, impeccable sound design, and complete freedom of movement, Sleep No More practically begs for puff the magic dragon. Fine advice, but this far out experience seems more conducive to pre-gaming with Panama Red or Purple Haze.


SLEEP NO MORE DURATION PRO
We're not allowed to give the show a proper review yet, and we're loathe to spoil its innumerable surprises, but there are a few pro tips you should keep in mind in order to help you get your money's worth. Tickets for this immersive, three hour curiosity are going fast-no small feat, considering they cost $75 a pop. The mysteriously spellbinding choose-your-own-adventure show Sleep No More is turning out to be the most buzzed-about theatrical production of the year.
