Earlier this Spring we recievived an invite for a beta test of a new show that was rehearsing in downtown Los Angeles. While we didn’t have the ability to check out the show-in-progress, we have been keeping tabs on I Pledge Allegiance, which makes its debut this week in the Arts District.

The show promises to mix escape room elements into a piece that stares into the heart of madness which is politics in 2018 America.

Via the magic of email we spoke with show co-creator Chris LeVan.

No Proscenium: For starters, what is I Pledge Allegiance?

Chris LeVan: I Pledge Allegiance is an immersive thriller. However, it’s darkly comic and slightly political as well. There’s also an ancient Egyptian twist in there, too.

NP: The trailer makes a nod to the cultural climate of America, plus there’s that whole title thing — is the inspiration for this piece rooted in present day politics, or is that just a jumping off point?

CL: The inspiration for this piece actually had to do with my partner Tristan and I discussing this “interrogation” type of show. We were fascinated with the idea of having someone interrogating an audience as they sat in a circle. We then began asking ourselves, “Why is he interrogating them?” During this time, the election was taking place and we decided to give him a political intention. However, that was just the starting point. His real intention ended up having to do with something else. Our show really isn’t too political. We’re not really making a statement about either party. We’re making a statement about cults and fanaticism.

NP: What led you to making an immersive piece, as opposed to another type of theatre?

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CL: About two years ago, Tristan and I checked out The Tension Experience and it completely blew our minds. Each of us had been fans of theatre up until that point, but had never experienced immersive theatre. At The Tension Experience, we felt things that we had never felt before. What we liked most about it was that we were characters in the story. We made choices, which affected the plot. It really doesn’t get more exciting than that.

NP: How are you approaching designing around audience agency? What should the audience be expecting in that regard?

CL: In our show, the actors will really control what the audience does. They’ll tell them what to do and ask them questions. Unlike an extreme haunt, there won’t be any intense physical contact. The actors will guide most of the story. However, towards the end, there’s an escape room part and how the audience performs in this part affects how the story will end.

NP: What did running a beta test back in March teach you, and where in the creative process did that land?

CL: Having a workshop production in March taught us a lot. Most importantly, it showed us that we have a show which connects with audiences. However, we also saw that we could do it better. We went back to the drawing board with the escape room part because we realized that that wasn’t working. We made it more inclusive of all the audience members instead of just a few. And we added an alternate ending, which will happen if they fail the challenge. We also added a new character, which brings a feminine energy to the show.

NP: You’re running for two weekends, but is that all there is for I Pledge Allegiance and the Ocularion?

CL: Tristan and I have developed this story for the better part of a year and have created a very rich world. There is so much that we want to do with it. First of all, we’d like to have another run in October with a bigger budget. We’ve also talked about writing sequels that focus on other characters. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of I Pledge Allegiance and our involvement in the community.

This run of I Pledge Allegiance starts on June 7th, and runs through June 16th. Tickets are $30.

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