When’s the last time you felt truly at peace?

That’s the first question asked by Retreat!, the new production from Black Rabbit Theatre Company the makers of 2023’s Crossing, which made our Review Crew’s Best Of list for that year.

Framed as a visit to “The Meadow, LA’s newest upscale retreat” which promises to “re-regulate your nervous system,” Retreat! takes place over eight scenes meant for up to two people at a time, if you bring a friend, asking guests to come as “you as you already are.”

We checked in with director Jordan Becker about the new show which opens runs Nov. 14th through 16th.

This is No Proscenium’s COMING SOON, a look at ongoing immersive experiences & events. To learn more about how your event could be considered for the feature check out How To Get Covered By NoPro.

 NoPro is 100% reader & listener supported. Join our Patreon campaign to secure & expand our coverage of Everything Immersive!

No Proscenium: Tell us a little bit about your experience! What’s it about? What makes it immersive?

Jordan Becker: Above all, this show is about connection. How to break through the noise of the over-therapizing TikToks and the hyper-individualism of self help, and simply be in the moment with someone else. How do we do it? Is it really that difficult? And what happens when the person you’re asking for help needs it just as much as you do?

NP: What was the inspiration for your upcoming experience? 

JB: This event began with asking ourselves how to build community. There’s a yearning for connection, especially as the powers that be try to separate us from each other. There’s strength in organizing, in leaning on the people around you, and we wanted to create and nurture that in an artistic setting while also exploring how to build sustainable connections in our day-to-day lives – without paying a premium or adding more items on our to-do list.

NP: What do you think fans of immersive will find most interesting about this latest experience? 

JB: This show has just as much of an impact no matter how much or how little an audience member wants to interact. There are a good number of opportunities to engage, to talk, to respond, but it’s more about the doors that we open for our audience than it is about whether they walk through them or not. It’s the questions they’ll ask themselves afterward, the thoughts it’ll provoke, and the encouragement we hope to give them to apply what they feel in our show to their everyday interactions with others.

NP: Once you started designing and testing what did you discover about this experience that was unexpected?

JB: Exactly how symbiotic the relationship is between the audience and the actors. As we began rehearsing it hit us how much we ourselves had to discuss what connection means to give our audience a truthful and vulnerable experience. We spoke on what scared us about connecting with someone else, what stops us from prioritizing silence, the methods we’ve used to connect with others and whether or not they’ve worked. It’s brought us closer to each other and incredibly excited and ready to share it with our audience members.

NP: What can fans who are coming to this, or thinking about coming to this, do to get into the mood of the experience? 

JB: Wear something that makes you feel good, and give yourself some time after to just chill. Plan on taking yourself out on a solo date, plan to go grab your favorite coffee, relax at Lake Balboa Park for a bit. In the meantime, listen to the score from Spike Jonze’s Her, watch something that makes you genuinely laugh, and find someone who gives you the hug you need.

Then just walk in as you are, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Discover the latest immersive events, festivals, workshops, and more at our new site EVERYTHING IMMERSIVE, home of NoPro’s show listings.

NoPro is a labor of love made possible by our generous Patreon backers. Join them today and get access to our Newsletter and Discord! You can also GIFT memberships.

In addition to the No Proscenium website and our podcast, and you can find NoPro on Bluesky, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and in the Facebook community also named Everything Immersive.