#13 Emotional realism, being first, and the infinite learning curve: Amy Rubenstein of Windy City Playhouse

Amy Rubenstein is in many ways the metaphorical tip of the spear within the burgeoning world of immersive theater in Chicago. As the artistic director of Windy City Playhouse, Amy explains the path to creating a bracingly lifelike visage of 1960’s Georgia in their recent show, Southern Gothic.

If immersive theater can be thought of as practical magic, the show Southern Gothic, can be thought of -explicitly- as a time machine. Of an initial expected run of about 3 months, Southern Gothic was extended to more than a year of performances; marking a turning point for the immersive landscape of Chicago.
In this show we talk about world building, the experience of an immersive actor, and why voyeurism and emotional intimacy are not always oppositional concepts.

Make it immersive:

James Cameron’s Avatar: [19:22]

Show Notes:

Favorite Fictional World [2:20]
What is Southern Gothic? [3:03]
What is an artistic director? [6:23]
The only long run & site specific immersive theater in Chicago? [10:14]
What was the most fun in doing this first Sandbox show? [11:41]
The experience of the actor [13:35]
Detail & the infinite learning curve [15:59]
Make it immersive: Avatar [19:22]
Actors as the Avatar: The gift of new shoes [22:40]
No pressure audience [24:10]
Those who don’t love traditional theater [25:55]
Intense moments in 1960’s Georgia & takeaway [27:23]
Watching one show 5+ times [30:47]
Historical fiction & emotional realism [31:39]
The Value of play [36:13]
Where to find Windy City Playhouse [38:57]

Selected links:

Windy City Playhouse

-Instagram

-Facebook

-Twitter

Southern Gothic

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