THE ILLUMINATI BALL, CYNTHIA VON BUHLER’S IMMERSIVE THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE, TO TAKE PLACE IN MASSIVE, FORMER VICTORIAN-ERA BANK ON NEW YEAR’S EVE
Media Contacts:
Jenny Chang, jenny@pkpr.com
Patrick Kowalczyk, patrick@pkpr.com
PKPR, 212.627.8098
A press video is available for download at: https://vimeo.com/253370035
Inspired by the Rothschild’s iconic 1972 Illuminati Ball, The Illuminati Ball - New York City will explore guests’ deepest desires with daring performances and experiences all night long
(December 6, 2018)- For the past three summers, small groups of 30 New Yorkers have been blindfolded and chauffeured on weekends from Manhattan to a secluded lakefront estate outside of the city for The Illuminati Ball - The Excursion, the long-running immersive theater hit by Cynthia von Buhler.
This New Year’s Eve, hundreds of New Yorkers will have the opportunity to indulge in the surreal and unforgettable experience when The Illuminati Ball - New York City takes place at The Weylin alongside the Williamsburg Bridge in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Formerly the home of a prominent New York bank, The Weylin recently underwent a $24-million-dollar renovation to restore this former monument to money to its 1875 glory.
The Illuminati Ball—New York City is inspired by leaked photos from the Baron and Baroness de Rothschild’s legendary 1972 fete, which drew elaborately masked guests such as Salvador Dali and Audrey Hepburnto the powerful couple’s mansion in France. Von Buhler’s version of the ball explores the myth and mystery of the Illuminati in conjunction with a powerful story about humanity (or lack of it). Guests, who will receive masks upon entry, willtake part in esoteric ritual ceremonies throughout the 6,500 square foot space. Highlights will include daring aerial, fire, and levitation performances and provocative dance, music, visual, and storytelling experiences unfolding continuously across three floors of interactive Illuminati-inspired rooms.
The event is written, produced and designed by von Buhlerand her Speakeasy Dollhouse team. Von Buhleris the most prolific creator of immersive theater in New York City having staged six hit plays, The Bloody Beginning (The Back Room), The Brothers Booth (The Players Club), Ziegfeld Midnight Frolic (Liberty Theater),The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini (Theatre 80), The Illuminati Ball Immersive Excursion (Secret Location), and The Illuminati Ball New York City (Weylin) in the last seven years.
VIPs have first choice of the masks and are part of their own more private and interactive initiation ceremony. They will be given a gift to wear which allows them access to the secret third floor Rothschild Dining Room for a delectable treat and exclusive immersive experiences.
Highlight of The Illuminati Ball - New York City include:
• THE MASKING ROOM: Upon entry each guest will choose a unique mask. Guests are welcome to keep this mask as a remembrance of this truly unforgettable evening.
• THE DOMED BALLROOM: Once masked, guests will be guided to the ballroom for the opening initiation ceremony. The ballroom remains active all night long withdance by Delysia la Chatte, dance by Katherine Crockett, the queen from the hit immersive show The Queen of the Night, fire performance by Cinder, aerial pole by Carolyn Chiu, and an ongoing show of music, fire, dance, levitation and tableaux. In addition, the recently deceased hip-hop legend Prodigy of Mobb Deep wrote and recorded a song specifically for the production with opera singer Kate Lori and she will perform it live. There is an open bar in this room.
• THE OCULUS: Aerialist duo Ravn and pole performer Carolyn Chiu drop from the oculus eye in the massive domed ceiling. The circular stage in the center of this room also features levitation and interactive tableaux. There is an open bar in this room.
Guests are welcome to wander to the kinship leader's lairs where the five Illuminati desires are explored: love, wealth, fame, power and respect.
• LOVE - CONNECTION – The Siren’s Speakeasy, presided over by chicken kinship leader Parthenope (Kate Lori), features a Greek mythology themewith sultry mermaids in a water tank and sexy sailors driven mad by their songs. There is an open bar with specialty nautical cocktails in this room.
• BASIC NEEDS - The Pumping Station, a farmer (PJ Griffiths) invites guests to step up, place their hands into curtained breast boxes, and milk horned and hoofed maidens while looking directly into their eyes. Afterwards, guest may taste the delicious milk they helped produce. Nearby, cow kinship leader Kahmadhenu (Sidney Morss) bathes in her breast milk. Guests may dip their hands into the youth inducing liquid.
• WEALTH - The Bank Vault our dear Pindar leader,Baron de Rothschild aka Pig King (Vincent Cinque), allows selected guests to step into his vault and grab as much money as they can hold.
• POWER - The Jeweled Jungle, presided over by Chumanzee (Trevor Moore) offers guests a chance to pluck emeralds and diamonds from flowering vines in an African rainforest in order to bejewel and empower themselves.
• RESPECT - The Mouse Holeis kinship leader Vacanti’s (Luka Fric) lair. Guests crawl into a mouse hole --which makes them feel physically small -- for discussions that makes them feel big, truly listened to and understood.
• FAME – The Rothschild Dining Room (VIP only), visited frequently by Baron de Rothschild aka Pig King (Vincent Cinque) and his wife Baroness de Rothschild (Celeste Hudson), offers a unique delectable treats and exclusive immersive experiences.
The evening will feature an open bar all night with food available for purchase in The Oculus Room.
What: The Illuminati Ball—New York City
Where: Weylin, 175 Broadway, Brooklyn
When: Monday, December 31, 2018, 9PM – 1AM (VIP entry at 8:30PM)
Website: http://www.theilluminatiball.com
Tickets: $200 per person, includes open bar and a unique mask. VIP: $400 per person, includes open bar and a unique mask. VIPs have first choice of the masks and are part of their own more private and interactive initiation ceremony. They will be given a gift to wear which allows them access to the secret third floor Rothschild Dining Room for a delectable treat and exclusive immersive experiences.
or text 646-221-5239
Note:The evening contains some nudity and adult themes and is 21+
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Photograph by Arin Sang-urai, 2018. Please credit. Click to enlarge and then drag it to your desktop.
Photograph by Lester Tsai, 2018. Please credit. Click to enlarge and then drag it to your desktop.
Photograph by Lester Tsai, 2018. Please credit. Click to enlarge and then drag it to your desktop.
Photograph by Mark Shelby Perry, 2018. Please credit. Click to enlarge and then drag it to your desktop.
Photograph by Mark Shelby Perry, 2018. Please credit. Click to enlarge and then drag it to your desktop.
Photograph by Mark Shelby Perry, 2018. Please credit. Click to enlarge and then drag it to your desktop.
Photograph by Mark Shelby Perry, 2018. Please credit. Click to enlarge and then drag it to your desktop.
Photograph by Mark Shelby Perry, 2018. Please credit. Click to enlarge and then drag it to your desktop.
Photograph by Mark Shelby Perry, 2018. Please credit. Click to enlarge and then drag it to your desktop.
Photograph by Mark Shelby Perry, 2018. Please credit. Click to enlarge and then drag it to your desktop.
Photograph by Mark Shelby Perry, 2018. Please credit. Click to enlarge and then drag it to your desktop.
Photograph by Mark Shelby Perry, 2018. Please credit. Click to enlarge and then drag it to your desktop.
Photograph by Mark Shelby Perry, 2018. Please credit. Click to enlarge and then drag it to your desktop.
Photograph by Mark Shelby Perry, 2018. Please credit. Click to enlarge and then drag it to your desktop.
Photograph by Mark Shelby Perry, 2018. Please credit. Click to enlarge and then drag it to your desktop.
Photograph by Mark Shelby Perry, 2018. Please credit. Click to enlarge and then drag it to your desktop.
Photograph by Mark Shelby Perry, 2018. Please credit. Click to enlarge and then drag it to your desktop.