It’s hard to imagine that things will ever be the same at Ward Village Building 3 after the zombie outbreak.
"We’ve leased the whole warehouse, and we’ve been decorating it as a set for the zombie infestation," said "Haunted Plantation" impresario Noa Laporga, who wrote, produced and is directing "The Outbreak Experience" with his partner, actress Angelina Khan.
Billed as an interactive theatrical experience, "Outbreak" may be the first time that the venue, the current home of Art + Flea and former site of a seafood distributor, will host the walking dead (floating dead are another story). Victims — sorry, guests — will be active participants.
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‘THE OUTBREAK EXPERIENCE’
Where: Ward Village, 1020 Auahi St., Building 3
When: 30-minute shows start every 15 minutes, 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday on October 16-18and Oct. 23-25 and 28-31
Cost: $20 for ages 14 and older; those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Group rates available.
Info: theoutbreakexperience.com, 783-8381
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As a show in which the audience plays a role, "It’s more exciting and more action, compared to something just scary," Laporga said.
Laporga and Khan also collaborate on "Haunted Plantation" at Hawaii’s Plantation Village in Waipahu, now in its 10th year, and brought forth its spawn, "Gunstock Zombie Hayride" and "1706," their debut interactive theater piece.
"’Outbreak’ is something that’s never been done in Hawaii before," Laporga continued. "It’s a hybrid between a haunted attraction, where you just walk through and get scared, and an immersive play, where you interact."
The lead actors in "Outbreak" play "special forces military guides, soldiers trying to help you escape the place." Scenes are set in rooms through which the group moves.
"You’re learning about this parasite, and the story starts to unravel as you go," Laporga said. "Guests watch, and if they get asked to do something, they can do it."
Along the way you can expect to be surprised by zombies on the attack.
Will they touch guests? Breathe or even bleed on them? Yes to all.
"They get really close," Laporga said.
Nevertheless, "Guests don’t get turned into zombies."
Groups will be limited to 20 guests.
"We want people to feel immersed in the story but also be able to enjoy the story," Laporga said. His inspiration for the piece came from a trip to New York City, where he attended the interactive theater installation "Sleep No More," with scenes from "Macbeth" playing throughout a six-floor building.
"Outbreak," which will run at the same time as "Haunted Plantation," with a separate cast, is Khan and Laporga’s first show to be staged in town. Kakaako with zombies is a timely ticket, indeed.
