Overview
The show is finally live! This week marked the official opening of show, and we’ve been running our lobby installation throughout all seven performances – from Tuesday through Saturday, with two shows on Saturday.
Final Prep & Installation
On Monday morning, we finalized all remaining prep at the ETC, printing and aging the rest of our paper props. We also received photos of the cast from Drama, and after editing them to match the period look, we printed and attached them to their corresponding tickets, making it easier for the audience to connect the installation to the onstage characters.
Dave helped us modify the speaker holders by drilling and cutting the base so they could be attached to the suitcases. We used hot glue to attach the base, and foil tape to ensure the electrical connection between the speaker and the mount.
By Monday afternoon, we transported the five main suitcases and all remaining props to the lobby and completed the full installation in time.
Daily Operations
Starting Tuesday, we’ve been running the installation every day before the show, during intermission, and after curtain call. Each night, we:
Check all speaker connections and telegram hardware
Recharge battery packs after the show
Close and reset the suitcases
Raise and lower the fabric panels
Swap out lighting and music based on the timing of the show
We’ve been playing different background audio and adjusting the lighting colors to match the mood at the beginning, intermission, and end of the performance. At the end of the show, we also project a scrolling list of the victims’ names to add a quiet, reflective moment for the audience.
Audience Response & Iteration
So far, we’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from audience, who seemed engaged and emotionally connected to the experience. As the show runs, we’ve also continued to make improvements:
We updated the telegram input interaction, changing it from long-press to hold-to-record and release-to-send. This made the interaction more intuitive and noticeably increased participation.
We also adjusted the foil tape on some speaker bases to improve stability and ensure reliable circuit connections during repeated use.
It’s been a busy and exciting week—seeing everything come to life and watching people interact with the work has been incredibly rewarding
