Thank you for experiencing The Mortality Machine
You chose the
Balanced Ending
Your choices created a world of both hope and consequences, where you could rescue your loved ones… for a price.
As part of the experiences, the participants determine what actually happened five years ago. All of the individuals, objects and locations you encountered were purposely ambiguous, so that we could accept your perspective on what was happening. Based on what you believed was going on, the experience would react, so that your decisions would not only determine your fate, but the very nature of the world.
When you entered Schumacher Lab, you decided that some people had to stay behind so that others might live. In this world, the device was a truly magical object... it let you journey to the land of the dead, and perhaps even rescue your loved ones. However, there was a price to be paid. For every individual who used the device -- including the original four trapped in the white room -- someone had to stay behind before the energy of the machine ebbed away. This reflects an ordered universe: you control your own fate, but every action must have a consequence.
We hope you enjoyed the experience. If you're curious to learn one of the other endings, we invite you back again to see what changes with the next group of participants.
Credits
Credits
Johnny Balogh - Daan Bootsma
The Barrister - Isaac Conner
Elizabeth Friend - Julia Jurgilewicz
Omi Johnson - Liz Law
Liz is a twenty somethin’, Southern-bred nomad who discovered her love for movement many moons ago. She is an evolving performer who is constantly exploring her own (perceived) limitations. She has immense gratitude for her classical ballet beginnings and has used that training to fall in love with pole and aerial arts. She is a proud creative partner at Sydnie L. Mosley Dances where she has the pleasure of being fully womyn, fully Black, and fully human through dance. She is a humble yoga instructor at Sacred Brooklyn in Bedstuy and an Arts Organizer + Administrator through PURPOSE Productions. She couldn't be happier to be joining the cast of the Mortality Machine!
The Reporter - Rita McCann
The Psychopomp - Kelsey Rondeau
Sam Travers - Jessy Smith
Jessy is a New York City based performance artist. Her choreography has been presented by Steelstacks @ Musikfest, The Spring Street Social Society, The Box NYC, in Blue Rodeo’s music video “Dust to Gold,” and for over 10 years at the DanceNOW Festival. She is currently a member of the immersive theater company Third Rail Projects and has been featured in numerous company works including Then She Fell, Ghost Light, Behind the City and The Grand Paradise, where she also served as Rehearsal Director. Other projects include: A. Human, Boardwalk Empire, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek LIVE! and The Broadway Dance Lab. This is Smith's debut with Sinking Ship Creations. She holds a BFA in dance from NYU. jessy-smith.tumblr.com
The Partici-"Plant" - Jennifer Suter
Jennifer is originally from Texas with a BFA in Theatre Performance. In addition to several Secret Cinema and Future Cinema immersive productions, Jennifer acted in The Revelation of Bobby Pritchard at the Greenwich Theatre while in London. Here in NYC, she has performed as Dr. Portia Ellis in The War Machine (Off-Broadway) as well as various other roles at the Theater for the New City, Manhattan Repertory Theatre, Dixon Place, etc. She has also acted in numerous film projects including Paternoster Productions’ award-winning short Still Falling, Cinetax Studios’ feature The Killer in the House, Shtick Figure’s series Under InspeKtion, as well as her own series Experience Curve. For more information, please visit www.SincerelySuter.com.
The Homeless Man - Rafael Svarin
was born and raised in Zurich, Switzerland and right away launched his acting career in the role of "Newborn" where he convincingly pretended to be happy to have been ripped out his comforting mother's womb only to be thrown into this nasty world with nothing but his naked body to express what his mind thinks. During the next few safe and quiet, yet mostly happy years he learned to perfect his technique and skills in order to be prepared for the ordeals of puberty and high school. He survived. Barely. After breaking his back, back in 2010, Rafael decided to move to New York to break a leg - in the hopes of ending up in a cast for a long time… He ended up in a few casts since arriving to this concrete jungle of opportunists and keeps breaking legs and the bank. All in good spirit, of course. Rafael is very exited to be part of an amazing, innovative theater show combining play pretend for adults (aka LARP) and site-specific dance to allow the audience to become the story’s protagonists. After all, that's less work for the actors, ey? To read this bio again in a different font and color with a cool picture in the background, go to www.rafaelsvarin.com - you'll also find some other cool stuff there.
Words - Ryan Hart
Ryan would claim to be a tinker, a tailor, a soldier, and a spy, but in truth he couldn’t hem a pair of pants. He developed his interest in storytelling as a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy, where he discovered theatre as part of the Academy’s Bluebard’s Theater Troupe. His live-action career has taken him from California to New York, producing over two dozen events in four states, as well as running events for hundreds (and one time, thousands) of people. Outside of live-action roleplay, Ryan is a pilot with over 1,500 hours over Iraq and Afghanistan, and a member of the Board of Trustees of both the Barrow Group and the Falcon Theater Program. He also has a teenage daughter who wants to be a writer one day, or so her instagram says.
Dance - Lara Marcin
Lara’s heart is easily captured by unabashed grooves. From dancing to the musical sounds of a toilet flush as an infant, Lara has been moved to take dance with her wherever she goes. Lara’s choreography experience includes tour choreography for The Chainsmokers and Zhu, fashion choreography for Zhu’s Nightday Collection, music video choreography in a variety of genres, and artistic direction for the LA-based experimental performing arts company, Sokamba. Lara complements her dance pursuits with live production, producing or working as a production assistant for shows, festivals, and concerts. When work is on pause, Lara can be found in nature or having lengthy conversations with loved ones (or strangers).
Design - Tommy Honton
Tommy was born at a young age in Kansas. He attended Washington University in Saint Louis and majored in Classics and Psychology with a minor in Film & Media Studies. After college, Tommy moved to Los Angeles where he writes, designs games and experiences, co-hosts a podcast, and trains his cats to do fun and interesting tricks. He is also the co-creator of the critically-acclaimed escape room Stash House, the interactive exhibition The Museum of Selfies, and a founding member of the League of Experiential Artists.
Production Design - Orli Nativ
Orli Nativ is a theatrical designer, artisan and mixed-media artist. Passionate about the exploration of stories and interdisciplinary approaches to art-making, her pursuit of costume as wearable story has given her an expansive, exploratory design approach leading to wider ranging projects: from puppets and found-object sculpture to opera, theatre, dance and even the creation of costumes in live flowers. Selected New York credits include: “Cut Throat” (Abingdon Theatre Company), "Cool Hand Luke" and "Deliverance" (Godlight Theatre Company), "The Chocolate Show!" (Off B'way), “The Trial of Typhoid Mary” (Live in Theater), and “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” (Piper Theatre). Orli is partner in Extra Dimensional Studios, which focuses on providing bespoke, detail-oriented design services for people, events, decor, products and spaces. Everything from 3D printing to custom millinery, concept creation to project management. IG:@orlidesign www.orlinativ.com
Scenic Design - Wildrence
For the storytellers of the world, Wildrence is the premier experiential space and consulting studio that gives both creators and audiences one of a kind, end-to-end experiences. Designing with layers of adventure, storytelling, and sensory engagement, we seek to build an inspiring world.
Yvonne Chang and Jae Lee studied Architecture at Cornell before moving to NYC. After working a few years at different architecture firms, their passion to make small scale accessible design drove them to take the leap into entrepreneurship. Since then, they have been developing various projects that showcase their abilities in transforming how one experiences interactive design. Wildrence was founded not only to create, but inspire people who are willing to step out of their comfort zone.
Team Members
Daniel Tan - Executive Producer
Jason Knox - Exceutive Producer
Sergey Kasich - Technical Director
Alex Young - Fabrication
Terry Guldimann - Fabrication Assistant
Weston Harper - Physical Computing
Bret Lehne - Carpenter
Emily Owens PR - Press Agent
Jenny Tibbels - Marketing
Sergey Kasich, Kevin Kim, Yo-Yo Lin - Technicians
Videography: Banana Chan
Documentarian: Emily Kaye, Anna White
Photography: Zach Filkoff, Liz Paulie
Credits: Ryan Duff
Visual Design: Allegra Durante, Taran Lopez
Original Music: Terra Warman