Shadow over Thurston Hill - Immersive Theater Show

Excerpt: Creative Treatment

For the full treatment: Shadow Over Thurston Full Creative Treatment

Narrative - Scene Four

Relic - Mood Board Only

Pushing through the hidden door, Morgan Pierce describes the Thurston family’s obsession with the oddities of the world, and their desire to have that reflected in the house when it was built. Morgan stresses that the preview they are about to give should not be discussed with the Thurstons. Entering the Trophy room, you stand amidst the Thurston family’s personal collection of art, trophies, and historical artifacts. Morgan informs you that the one in the center of the room is the relic in question for the evening. It towers above you on its pedestal, and you get the vague sense that it is glowing from within and pulsing in a slow rhythm, while the lights in the room seem to have the opposite effect.

Morgan reveals that the family doesn’t know what the Relic is or does, aside from the fact that it is clearly alien. Strange symbols cover the surface of the Relic. As you approach it to examine it, the ringing in your ears returns, but this time, it seems filled with whispers. Was it truly in your ears, though, or coming from the Relic? The room seems to breathe and paintings bulge and then cave slowly in time with the Relic’s glow. The room seems off-axis - as if the Relic draws everything to itself. As you examine the room, Morgan begins to walk toward the Relic but shakes off what seems to be a trance before announcing that you should leave, clearly not wanting to be near the thing longer. They usher you back into the Foyer and close the door.

Tech Breakdown: Scene Four

Safety

  • Standard Fire/smoke detection

  • Wooden Handrails surrounding the Pedastal to discourage climbing or touching.

Scenic/Set

  • Large Wood Panelled Pedestal for Yog Relic

  • Modern Wood Paneling - Late 90s style, chair rail height.

  • Dark Wall and ceiling paint - flat color

  • Angled floor, angled toward center/Relic. Low degree angle, max 5 degrees.

Decor/Props

  • Small Pedestals and Art pieces - Historical artifact replicas, primarily North and South American.

  • Painting reproductions, 1900 - Current.

  • Lanterns & Floor Plants

  • Small cushioned bench seating

  • Oversized Leather Chairs

Lighting

  • Practical Wall Lights

  • Art Spotlights

  • Spots for Yog Relic

  • Subtle shimmer within the relic

  • Practical lights fade and brighten rhythmically (2 min loop)

A/V

  • Subtle Audio played over hidden speakers near Relic

  • Targeted speakers for the area near the Relic

  • Example Atmosphere

F/X

  • Paintings “breathing” - bending toward the relic slowly and subtly

  • Bench seating altered to angled slightly

  • Leather Chairs have subtle vibrations coursing through them

  • Internal lighting/shimmer for relic

Sensory

  • Faint sulfur smell near the relic

Ops

  • Butler attendants act as additional guides to Morgan and Hayden characters, guarding backstage or unavailable areas.

Talent

  • Actor - Hayden King: Acts as mid guest guide

  • Actor - Morgan Pierce: Acts as fore guest guide

Costuming

  • N/A (Refer to Scene Two)

Makeup

  • N/A (Refer to Scene Two)

 Mystic Pines - Attraction Experience

Excerpt: First-Person Narrative

For the full Narrative: Mystic Pines Full Development Narrative

Your vehicles rush through the trees and down a slope, careening after the sudden change in direction. At the bottom, the vehicles slow. However, you see cryptids dotting the side of the path, each engaged in a seemingly odd activity - cutting what looks like a giant block of cheese, one gathering sap from a tree, one stringing leaves together. Taking photos of the cryptids also triggers movement, like the animals, where some drop what they are doing, some are scared by the camera, and some pose for you.

As you continue, the area looks more and more "established" and less overgrown, leading into a camp. There is also an increase in cryptids as you go, with each working on a progressively more culinary task, when finally, you see a sign - Cryptid Pines Camp. Oddly, the sign seems quite familiar. As you enter the camp under it, you find what appears to be the preparation for a party, with cryptids performing related tasks. You also notice a plethora of items that were missing from the human camp. The refrigerator being carried by the Yeti, Puckwudgies spreading the tablecloth over a table, Lizardman cooking a nasty stew with the pots over a fire.

At the far end of the camp, you enter a dragon’s cave, where the dragon is cooking barbeque for the party over lava below the nearby volcano. Surprised at your entrance, the dragon trips, knocking the barbeque into the lava pool and triggering an eruption! You race through the cave as the lava begins to fill the cavern, and the Dragon holds a boulder to help you escape. Outside the cave, the dragon calls for Thunderbird, who flies in, thunder crashing. Clouds swirl overhead and it begins to rain heavily over the volcano, which cools rapidly.