MONSTER PARTY is an interactive play that puts guests in the center of a supernatural, sociopolitical melodrama. Set within the context of a bizarre, surreal cocktail party, the show sees attendees let loose inside the home of an enigmatic socialite known as The Baroness. Throughout the 2.5-hour experience, guests will have the opportunity to engage with a host of colorful characters as they piece together a lurid, gruesome narrative.
Interactivity, participation in party games, and, most importantly, gossip can all be used as storytelling mechanics; guests are encouraged to engage not only with the performers but also with each other to help piece the story together. While participation is encouraged, MONSTER PARTY is designed for newcomers and seasoned immersive theatre attendees alike, allowing everyone to engage with the narrative at their own pace. Guests can dive in and engage with the material directly, or simply enjoy a libation while watching a zany, absurdist narrative unfold around them. Thematically, MONSTER PARTY is a fable about how the systems we exist in – Western Christianity, capitalism, patriarchy, warmongering, and various moral panics – turn us into monsters, terrorizing one another while those in power benefit.
The show is set in Washington D.C., against the backdrop of McCarthyism of the early 1950s – specifically the moral panic that would later be known as the ‘Lavender Scare,’ when queer government employees were outed and fired due to being perceived as ‘national security risks’ (read: due to institutional homophobia). The show is designed to both entertain and provoke, challenging audiences to confront their own monstrous tendencies.
Writer, director, and producer Matt Dorado: “MONSTER PARTY is very near and dear to my heart. I’ve been working on this fully realized version since the day after we wrapped the proof of concept back in October 2024. It’s been incredibly rewarding to develop, fundraise for, and ultimately get to produce a show that is so authentic to my deranged inner-creative. Unfortunately, the show’s themes have become strikingly more relevant since then, as we’re mired in a new era of violent political upheaval, unfounded moral panic, and deep division. So although it’s rooted in schlocky melodrama, I’m hopeful that MONSTER PARTY will challenge audiences – perhaps in new and unexpected ways – while also allowing them an evening of gonzo entertainment. I’m genuinely thrilled to unleash this lurid, campy immersive piece into the world!”
MONSTER PARTY runs April 16-25 at Rita House, and tickets are available at monsterpartyshow.com. Tickets are $150.00 (with special group pricing available, $145 per person for groups of four to seven, and $140 per person for groups of eight or more). Tickets include the 2.5-hour show and libations served throughout the evening. Only 50 tickets are available per showing. The show is strictly 21+.
MONSTER PARTY cast:
Dasha Kittredge as The Baroness
Sidney Franklin as Charlie
Benjamin Berg as Bernard
Bukola Ogunmola as Patricia
Emily Yetter as Loretta
Misha Reeves as Helena, The Butler
Darren Herczeg as Stanley, The Maid
ABOUT MATT DORADO
Matt Dorado is an immersive theatre creator and producer. He has been creating work in Los Angeles for over ten years, most notably the interactive nightlife series, DRUNKEN DEVIL, which featured highly theatrical, spectacle-driven parties fused with original, character-driven storytelling. Thanks to buzzy word-of-mouth and a dedicated fanbase, what started as small, one-off themed warehouse parties quickly blossomed into “a legend on the LA haunt scene” (No Proscenium).
He also created TO LIVE AND DI(N)E IN L.A., an interactive, true-crime inspired dining experience. Guests broke bread with the ghosts of infamous Los Angeles killers and their victims, whisked away on a journey through the city’s sordid history via a four-course meal, cocktail pairings, and theatrical performances. The experience sold out each seating over its two-year run, and was hailed by TimeOut LA as “the most morbid – but entertaining – meal you can find in Los Angeles.”
He has also worked as an experience creator and producer for a number of organizations and brands, including Cirque du Soleil, LA Opera, Apothic Wine, El Silencio Mezcal, Diplomatico Rum, and more. Now, through his eponymous theatre company, Matt Dorado Projects, he seeks to continue creating high-quality, unique theatrical experiences, starting with MONSTER PARTY.
ABOUT RITA HOUSE
Rita House is a breathtaking, 1929 Spanish Colonial gem, minutes from the Grove and West Hollywood. Originally a Hollywood prop house and then a violin factory, in the mid 60s it became home to Rita Riggs, a famed costumer who worked in both legendary films and television. Most recently, Tash Rahbar and Scott Strumwasser, Co-Founders of the venue, whose architectural studio shares the space, lovingly restored the building and opened “Rita House” as a creative space for Co-Working, Events, and Filming. The building continues a long tradition of actively supporting the creative arts while maintaining its well-deserved Hollywood legacy. Rita House is located at 5971 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90036.