This week Leah, Laura, and Patrick pull back the curtain on Savage Hall, a murder-mystery that folds in larp, meticulously crafted audio, and the power of Zoom to send its players back to WWII-era London.

Then Noah and special guest, actress Jenapher Zheng, compare notes on their wildly different experiences at Secret Cinema Presents Arcane (based on the Riot Games series airing on Netflix). [23:15]

And don't miss next week's episode for even more on Arcane when Kevin and Laura compare notes on their upcoming adventures.

With Leah Davis, Laura Hess, Patrick McLean, special guest Jenapher Zheng, and hosted by Noah Nelson.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this very special episode Review Crew members Kevin Gossett, Blake Weil, and Patrick McLean join host Noah Nelson for a dive into NoPro's 2021Holiday Gift Guide for Immersive Fans & Creators and Noah takes us all on a visit to LA's Cantrip Candles for a chat with owner and co-creator of Tales By Candlelight Christoff Visscher [31:50].

Associate Producer: Parker Sela

Music: Chris Porter of the Speakeasy Society

Headlines: Kathryn Yu, Executive Editor of No Pro

Produced and Hosted by: Noah Nelson

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week:

Dani Parr and Michelle Feuerlicht of Lost Origin — currently pushing the boundaries of immersive performance in London, join us to talk about their incredible experimental project. [8:30]

We've got a fresh Pick of the Week from (redacted). [32:45]

David Oppenheim of the National Film Board of Canada stops by to talk about Draw Me Close, which is playing at the Soulpepper Theatre in Toronto after years of development on the festival circuit. [39:42]

Plus updates from THE NEXT STAGE which is coming up in January. Gah! It's almost here!!!

Associate Producer: Parker Sela

Music: Chris Porter of the Speakeasy Society

Headlines: Kathryn Yu, Executive Editor of No Pro

Produced and Hosted by: Noah Nelson

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's a theme to this one, if you look hard enough.

XR Artist and Immersive Media Director Brenda Chen (The Wave) is on hand to talk about her work bringing virtual concerts to life.

Jenny Koons and Sam Pinkleton — co-directors and choreographers of the production of Head Over Heels currently playing at the Pasadena Playhouse join us to talk about the all-new experientially staged vision of the GO-GO’s jukebox musical.

And Ian Hamilton of Upload VR drops in and we get philosophical about what all the buzz about the metaverse means for shaping how we all see the world.

Plus: a Next Stage Update, The Pick of the Week, and Headlines

RUNDOWN

• Open and Next Stage [0:00]
• Headlines [3:45]
• Brenda Chen [6:50]
• Jenny Koons & Sam Pinkleton [26:45]
• Pick of the Week [40:35]
• Ian Hamilton [45:00]
• Close [1:08:30]

Associate Producer: Parker Sela

Music: Chris Porter of the Speakeasy Society

Headlines: Kathryn Yu, Executive Editor of No Proscenium

Host & Producer: Noah Nelson, Publisher of No Proscenium  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another slightly unconventional episode starts with a double-header from Noah on the VR experience The MetaMovie: Alien Rescue and the Stranger Things Official Store [29:05], which turns the Selfie Palace concept upside down. (WHAT? Like you didn't see that coming.) Patrick comes back from vacation with tales of reading Choose Your Own Adventure books [37:51], and Kevin lets us choose his segment and we pick his first steps into the narrative-heavy roleplaying game Disco Elysium [52:00].

Hosted by Kevin Gossett with Patrick McLean and Noah Nelson.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a week away we are BACK with a FIVE STAR RUNTIME episode. Every segment a main event in and of itself.

We kick things off with Ahmed Best, director of The Echo Theatre Company's Ascension here in Los Angeles. Best draws upon his long history with and love of theatre – he was a cast member of STOMP for years – for this production which was developed for Zoom but brought to life on stage instead.

Then we check in with our friend Scott Stein of CNET to discuss all the Meta and Metaverse news of late.

Finally, we settle in for a deep dive with investor Tipatat Chennavasin General Partner & Co-founder of The Venture Reality Fund to talk about his outlook on XR from the heart of Silicon Valley.

Plus: all-new announcements from The Next Stage Summit & Mini-Festival and a double dose of your immersive headlines.

Assoicate Producer: Parker Sela

Music: Chris Porter of The Speakeasy Society

Headlines: Kathryn Yu, Executive Editor of No Proscenium

Host & Producer: Noah Nelson, Founder & Publisher of No Proscenium

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week a breather of sorts as Noah and Blake wax poetic on Inscryption, a video game that takes cues from both escape games and ARGS, Kevin brings us up to speed on the latest jumping-off point for Blaseball, and Blake tells us all about the incredible sounding The Great Escape, a Korean reality show that puts B-list celebrities into elaborate escape game scenarios.

Next week: back to business!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before a short break a BIG SHOW:

Jonny Grant of Department Studios comes to talk to us about Arkham Asylum, which opens in London next Fall, with tickets going on sale next week. Artist Johann Diedrick joins us to talk about his web and VR project Dark Matters which explores how voice assistants like Alexa are being trained in ways that leave them incapable of hearing Black voices. 8 Players creator Ross Tipograph drops in to share details on Sleepy Hollow, now open in Chicago and soon to be in Washington D.C., and Abby Sun of Immerse shares details of the publication's 5th Anniversary. Plus the Pick of the Week and Headlines.

RUNDOWN

• Johann Deidrick - Dark Matters [5:40]
• Jonny Grant - Arkham Asylum [21:20]
• Pick of the Week [36:20]
• Abby Sun of Immerse [39:40]
• Ross Tipograph - Sleepy Hollow [58:20]
• Closing/Next Stage Update [1:07:40]

Associate Producer: Parker Sela

Music: Chris Porter of the Speakeasy Society

Headlines: Kathryn Yu, Executive Editor of NoPro

Host & Producer: Noah Nelson, Publisher of NoPro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.