MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Theatergoers looking for a different kind of night out are finding it at Faena Theater in Miami Beach, where the production “Obsession” puts audiences in the middle of the performance instead of watching from a distance.
The immersive show has become the theater’s biggest production to date, according to Brian Forti, Faena Theater’s executive producer and director of creative entertainment.
“(It’s) our biggest show, which I think is doing great, and it’s probably one of the best shows we’ve ever produced in the 11 years we’ve been doing shows here, is ‘Obsession,’” he said.
Inside the intimate theater, 155 guests surround the stage, placing audience members just feet away from singers, dancers and aerialists. Rather than staying on stage, performers move throughout the room, interacting directly with guests.
“We have some of the best performers. We brought in Sophia Bollman from Las Vegas. We actually brought her in from the Bellagio Hotel, and she’s probably one of the best things we’ve ever had. It’s a sexy show,” Forti said.
Unlike a traditional theater experience, the production is designed to eliminate the separation between performers and the audience.
“It’s really intimate, immersive, and as you can see in a theater like this, it’s not like you’re in a Broadway theater or in a big arena. No, you’re right there, and the dancers and the singers and the performers are right there, all around you,” Forti added.
The show also features aerialists performing overhead and a live violinist weaving through the audience.
“When the performers are coming out, they’re immersing with everybody in the audience, whether you’re popping balloons in that performance, or Sophia’s talking to you, which she loves to do with everybody in the audience,” Forti said.
He said the immersive concept was intentional from the beginning.
“That was the whole point. Alan Faena, when he designed the theater, he worked closely with Baz Luhrmann, the director of ‘Moulin Rouge.’ They realized a theater like this does not exist anywhere,” he added.
Guests are encouraged to embrace the interactive experience.
Those hoping to see Obsession this summer should plan ahead. Faena Theater will close for its seasonal break from Sunday through Aug. 4 before performances resume on Aug. 6.
When the show returns, tickets will be available at a discount through Miami Spice, making it easier for visitors to pair dinner with a show.
Click here for more information on how to purchase tickets.
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