This is more of a party write up than the regular posts I’ve been doing, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to give this place some credit.
Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I was lucky enough to attend a couple of the “Sleep No More” afterparties. For a bit of backstory, “Sleep No More” is the retelling of Macbeth, set in a 1930’s style hotel, called the McKittrick. And by hotel, I mean they’ve converted three abandoned warehouses into a sprawling, Hitchcockian recreation of a 1930’s hotel that is a labyrinth of excellence in set design. The place is stunning, to say the least. As for the afterparties, it was a 30’s style jazz meets 2011’s dj’d nightlife, with multiple jazz singers, bands, and a whole cast of characters that were also wandering throughout. Not to mention the massive dj set on the ground floor, with a dance floor set in the middle of a forest. Yes, forest. I loved the dress codes each night, dutifully enforced by the doormen, which takes the atmosphere to the next level. To say the least, it was an all consuming sensory fest, and a testament to the skills of the organizers. I was there for the red party and the macabre night, which were very cool. There’s a smoky haze to the place, and it feels more like you’re in a dream than a performance space.
Anyway, the whole point of this really is to say how amazing the talent was. Here’s a video of one performer, Niia, who improvised a jazzy little number, using a random guest’s text messages as lyrics — the feel and energy sums the night up rather well. She’s on Facebook here. As for “Sleep No More,” I haven’t seen the show, so I can’t comment on that, but if it’s 1/10th of the spectacle the party was, I’d say it’s more than worth the $75 ticket price. Performances last several hours, and are already sold out for most of November. Check it out if you can!