The Willows

THE WILLOWS maniacally scratched every itch I had (for fresh immersive theater concepts) until it bled and bled and bled so beautifully. A maximum of 18 guests are allowed to attend each performance. Think dinner theater (kinda)… but it’s actually a wake being held for a recently departed young man by his rapidly-mentally-deteriorating family wherein you must quickly assume the role of one of the deceased’s friends in order to “yes, and” the whole experience. It escalates… boyyy does it escalate. Maybe a small dollop of Texas Chain Saw Massacre without the saw? One of the many things I loved is that it’s formatted to encourage interaction between yourself and the actors AND your fellow attendees. So because we shared an intense experience with complete strangers over a few hours, we actually made friends at this thing, traded contact info, and I even got to slow dance with my favorite new stranger in ages. It RULED.

Truly mind blowing. What a phenomenal performance and story this was. It is so immersive and open, it’s really unlike anything I’ve done before because of how intimate it is. Will 1000% be back and couldn’t give it any higher praise… highly recommend

It is good to come home. 2023 marks the 2nd year I've attended the Willows, and it remains one of my favorite immersive experiences to date. From the moment you ring the doorbell, you are whisked away into a dreamlike world where the night slowly slips into an ominous chaotic thrill. Interaction is highly encouraged, and curiosity is rewarded. The actors put forth strong performances and are willing to part with insightful dialogue to those who are brave enough to ask. Partway in the night, guests are taken along branching paths, making return trips satisfying. During my second visit, I was shown a completely different storyline and participated in activities I did not know existed on my first visit. I do not want to divulge any further - this is one of those "the less you know, the better" scenarios. If you can snag a ticket (which is extremely difficult to come by) and love immersive theater, then make your way to The Willows before it is too late.

Very immersive… lots of fun… be sure to split up from your group to get the full experience…

Willows is one of the best immersive theater experience you can find. The acting is entertaining and peculiar and you get to act and improv to fuel the show. It’s done in a very controlled way so it still all comes together at the end. There are several story lines to experience during the night and technically you only go on one track so while going with someone else, I recommend splitting up at the dinner table and conversing at the end of the night on what you experienced. Willows is expensive but it’s worth it to do once, it’s very memorable and if you take into account all the actors it makes sense why it’s the price it is. Go with people you like and honestly don’t be afraid to go alone if you have no friends.