Written by Team Brewhaha
10/22/2025
In Albuquerque, New Mexico, there is a unique immersive experience that fits perfectly with the spooky season. Located in the Vortex Theatre, with signage outside, you are directed to the waiting area. There, you are given a card with the name of the character you will follow during the experience. When you enter, you walk into a living room area. There was extremely good attention to detail; there were chairs and a couch to sit in, and family pictures on the wall. For anyone who has not experienced an immersive theatre production, this is where, instead of watching actors on a stage, you become part of the action! The three main characters will introduce themselves and interact with each other and you about having a slumber party. Each of the three main actresses has clothing that matches the color of a card you are given before you start the production.
Throughout the experience, each actor wore accurate costumes. Most of the main show takes place in the living room, but there are connected scenes hidden along the walls. Each of these joining areas has two scenes. The first scene adds to the story with detailed sets, and the connecting rooms are where the interactive part of the storyline comes into play. Almost like mini escape rooms, you are given the task of finding objects hidden amongst the sets and props. Each of these scenes follows the storyline from the small room it is connected to.
Slumber Party, being a full production, utilizes advanced technology in parts of the experience with projections that respond to the scene being played in front of you. The experience uses both ambient lighting and spotlights to bring attention to characters or parts of the sets. There is fog and flickering lights throughout the experience, and there is a soundtrack and sound effects to immerse you further into the story. The use of space, considering the size of the building, is very well utilized, and the secret areas are well hidden.
The real star of a Slumber Party is the actors; throughout the 30-minute experience, the actors will interact with each other and the audience. Each character has their own personality and traits that add to the story. The actor we were assigned to had an upbeat personality and encouraged the others to stay strong. The actors do not need to use a microphone since the main stage is relatively small. The father and sister, along with her boyfriend, did a great job of adding a sense of intensity to the room. There is also a trio that appears out of the darkness that will guide you on your journey. The way these actors spoke in sync was very well done. Each of the branching scenes had its own set of actors; each group goes into these very intimate scenes. These areas also had some well-timed jump scares from the actors, though not in a haunted house sense. Also, the actors use a gruesome amount of blood, but if it gets on your clothes, it comes out when washed. The finale of the experience is very well done with fog, a heart-wrenching tone, and a final confrontation that includes items your group found throughout the experience.
With Slumber Party being a new show from a new production company, we were impressed with our experience. This production is like nothing we have seen in Albuquerque, and we hope they come back next year. If you are looking for an involved immersive experience, check out Slumber Party and prepare for a unique theatre experience!
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