Meet the Superfans of “Sleep No More”
Good morning. It’s Monday. James Barron is off today. Today, we’ll delve into the captivating world of superfans who have experienced the immersive theater phenomenon “Sleep No More” not once, not twice, but hundreds of times.
Among these devoted enthusiasts is Emma Story, a 43-year-old software developer who has witnessed this groundbreaking theatrical experience a remarkable 124 times. “Everyone thinks I’m a bit eccentric,” she admitted with a laugh. However, she is far from alone in her fascination with this kaleidoscopic, wordless Off Broadway reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.”
On a recent Sunday evening, a diverse group of superfans eagerly lined up outside the venue for yet another journey into the enchanting world of “Sleep No More.” Among them were:
- Jessica Bonn, who has attended 330 performances since her first visit in 2013.
- Sophia Li, an astounding attendee with around 430 visits since 2016; she’s lost track of the exact number.
- Dee Anne Anderson, who has been captivated by the experience 315 times since the show opened in Chelsea in 2011.
These superfans are eager to immerse themselves once more in the dizzying narrative of “Sleep No More,” a unique universe where they don white Venetian masks and witness Shakespeare’s iconic characters move through 100 intricately designed rooms. In one room, the audience watches as Lady Macbeth, surrounded by opulence, desperately splashes water as she attempts to rid herself of the infamous “damned spot.” In another, three witches engage in a hypnotic dance, revealing Macbeth’s fateful prophecies while swirling around the audience in a dazzling strobe-lit rave.
