Broadway rarely commits an entire house to scaring people, and this one hands the job to the founder of Punchdrunk plus a professional illusion designer, which is a very specific set of tools. Running time is a tight two hours and ten minutes, so it is built as an event rather than an epic. If you want a Halloween-season night out that is not a haunted maze in a parking lot, this is the Midtown version.
What to expect
A contemporary haunting story told with projection, sound and stage illusion, running two hours and ten minutes with one intermission. Expect sudden loud cues, sustained darkness and effects designed to land in the auditorium rather than only onstage. The August Wilson is a wide house where centre seats read the effects best.
Good to know
- 50 St (C E) is a block from the August Wilson at 245 W. 52nd St.; 49 St (N R W) also works
- Not for young children; there are loud jump cues, extended darkness and strobe-style effects
- Centre orchestra and centre front mezzanine give the best angle on the illusion work
- October dates around Halloween sell out first for anything horror themed in Midtown
- Latecomers may be held longer than usual because of blackout sequences
- Accessible seating and assistive listening are available; flag light sensitivity to the box office
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Common questions
Do I need to know the films?
No. It is an entirely new story set in the same world.
How long is it?
Two hours and ten minutes including one intermission.
How scary is it?
It is designed as horror, with jump scares, darkness and illusion effects.
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