Speakeasy Dollhouse: Ziegfeld’s Midnight Frolic

I had been wanting to attend this show for a very long time and finally got the opportunity a few weeks ago. This is an interactive performance. Audience members move between the main room of «New York» and the upstairs which is «Paris.» There is a hotel set up in Paris as well to explore. I think it would be easier if I separate this list into pros and cons:
Pros:
— The Roaring 20’s is a really hot theme lately. The 20’s is one time period I would love to visit and this show did an INCREDIBLE job of re-​creating the 20’s
— The scenery was outstanding. The space was utilized in the most incredible way, and I truly felt transported in every area which I stood. New York — The actual show on stage was amazing and definitely felt authentic., costumes and dances were incredible. Easily entertaining and an incredible, unique, performance for sure. Paris Hotel — The glass room where you watch the exchange between Olive Thomas and her husband was great, this is was interactive theater is all about. I felt like I was in the hotel room with them, this was better than watching a movie and better than watching a show! Paris Outside of Hotel — Awe inspiring and jaw dropping. An INCREDIBLE set up, with very high ceilings, a dancer hanging off of a half moon set up, French actors putting on «street performances» Again, authentic. If you have always wanted to visit Paris in the 1920’s you would have the opportunity here!
Acrobats and Aerial artists– Incredible! Some of the best I’ve ever seen! The silks performers were outstanding. The chandelier acrobats were my favorite, simply gorgeous and this was definitely a unique feat!
Cons: Unfortunately, too many.
— «Immersive» Theater? I think not. At least at shows like Queen of the Night, you are given a specific task and the actors do things with you and to you. At QOTN it was very clear what you were supposed to be doing at all times. Here? Not one person had a clue. You are given a card with a role on it. For example, I was supposed to find some blonde, bimbo, Marilyn Monore wannabe, and ask her how to «break out» into the cinema experience. I was SO excited that I got a role, only to find out that nothing actually happens. When I played my role to her, she genuinely seemed bothered like she had no idea what I was talking about. She told me to sleep with lots of actors, then pushed me towards the stage and told me she was busy. When my boyfriend played his role, «Ask _​_​_​_​if she is being abused and ask her to marry you» she simply was like, «Aww, no thanks.» So stupid. There was no mission, no point in even being there. You aimlessely walk back and forth between Paris and NY, doing nothing except watching the stage performance or the glass box performance at the hotel in Paris. Nothing to figure out, no special mission to go on, truly aimless. Most people just sat around on the steps or in seats looking confused, disappointed, and straight up bored. They could have done so much more, and got people so much more involved if it were truly immersive. You’re given your role and no further instructions. I, and most people spent the entire night confused and bored. The story line is happening all around you, leaving everyone to have no idea what was going on. This play tried to do what Sleep No More Does (following one character around and having a possibility of many different experiences) and failed at it.
— Your actors need an attitude adjustment. I understand the big shot actress with the blonde wig has TOTALLY hit the pinnacle of her career by being in this mediocre performance, but chill with the attitude. My boyfriend who is usually very naïve in these matters even called out the fact that she was not nice at all to say the least. I know her role was to be somewhat of a primadonna, but on a few occasions when she saw us she would make a snide remark that was off script and out of character. «You’re in my way, you’re in the way, MOVE! GO OUT THERE, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!» was uncalled for. A fair number of the actors seemed to have a condescending attitude when working with the audience. Something is mentally wrong with that actress, her overcompensation was showing.
Great storyline, great potential, incredible use of space and ability to transport the guests to an amazing world. Unfortunately, too confusing and messy of a follow through. Enjoyed it, but also felt very uncomfortable and confused many times.

We aren’t new to immersive theatre and we loved this show. Venue is absolutely great. The theatre is huge and we loved the high ceilings and mysterious yet modern vibe of hall where Paris was. The songs, cabaret and chandelier dancing girls are all great. Beauty is there is a show going on all the time and one can venture back and forth from here to Paris and each time one will have slightly different experience.
This is the 2^nd production of speakeasy dollhouse we saw and we truly enjoyed it.

Very unassuming location in the back of Liberty Diner which had me a bit concerned initially. We had VIP tix and did the champagne orgy– that was a nice way to slide into the moment and immerse into the theme of the evening– the 1920’s.
Patrons and actors alike were dressed up which really made it interesting and then the show began!
The singing and dancing was fun, fast paced and ever changing. The chandelier and the dancers attached were really a spectacle and so very talented.
Costuming that will make you not want to blink– attention to detail and sparkle galor! I love the Ziegfeld girls and their lingerie ablaze with sequins and crystals. They were dripping in opulence and it was all dazzling with the dancing and lights.
You do feel like you’re in another world as one act blends into the next and the story unfolds. Hold your breath for Josephine… dear, dear, dear. She’s got what it takes to pull off a real show stopping performance!
You’ll love it and remember it for a long time.

This show really was unique! The star Oliver had one of the best singing voices I’ve ever heard and she was stunning. Some people dressed up in costume which which was cool since you didn’t know who was In the show or not. The dancing was great and if you get general admission some dancing is right in front of your face.
My only complaint is that the show dragged on a bit long. It was very crowded and made me miss key points of the murder mystery. My friend and I left early cause we didn’t understand the murder and I had to look it up on Wikipedia to understand the backstory to this.
I still would highly recommend this show though!

In A Nutshell:
–I felt like I was in another world!
–You feel like you are zapped back into time and partake in how people were entertained in that era.
–I was a young, ambitious Al Capone looking to partner up and start my own legendary crime reign!
–The actors/​actresses were awesome. Great personalities (minus the balloon girl) and some great Cirque du Soleil type athleticism.
–Make sure you get there early bc the Liberty Diner is right smack in busy Times Square.
Overall, immersion theatre is really fun and you get to walk around and explore the venue where you’ll be a critical part of the story no matter where you are :)

What a disappointment. I’ve seen other interactive theater productions including Sleep No More and Then She Fell which I absolutely loved. This show was a complete amateur-​hour. Even for $ 47 on Groupon it’s absolutely not worth it.
Theatre was packed over-​capacity where it was very difficult to catch the main acts. The sets are minimalist, and there are very few areas to wander and discover. The entire production takes place in 3 rooms.
Dancing and singing was mediocre… on par with what you might expect from cruise ship or Atlantic City theater.
You’re given a role and a passport, which sounds like an interesting concept but turns out to be completely useless to the plot… I get the sense that the actors aren’t trained well on how to incorporate the roles into the act and seem confused when you approach them.
Too many other awesome shows that pull off the interactive theater style more effectively. I’m truly surprised at the positive Unilocal reviews… My guess is that those reviewers aren’t aware of the other better quality shows out there.

What FUN! (Don’t forget to have fun and dress up!)
My friend surprised me with tickets to this, which was awesome. I know there are sometimes a Groupon or Living Social deal so check that out before getting your tickets.
I recommend definitely eating a hefty meal before hand in case you have to run around. Also, if you want to dine here, you have to make reservations ahead of time.
They give you directions, which are pretty clear and from there on, you’re on an ADVENTURE.
Wear comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking around (if you want) and if you don’t have have a reserved table, you’re on your feet. The show is amazing and the talent is great. The cast is fun.
When you come in, they give you a passport with a mission. When I went to do my mission, I seemed to have surprised the actress, like she didn’t really know what I was talking about. Which threw me off also.
The cast is awesome though. And if you go upstairs, there are seating areas so rest your feet if needed.
I want to become a chandelier girl so badly. What beautiful dancing and singing.
Drinks are a bit pricey, which is expected and not particularly strong.
I just wished it were a little bigger and even more exploring to do! I just couldn’t get enough!

I had the pleasure of seeing a wonderful show. Ziegfeld midnight frolic … Performed in the heart of Times Square this wonderful show brings the audience back to the 1920s… With a talented cast that sings and dances to old favorites… you want to see this show again and again… money well spent!

If you ever wanted a taste of what it was like to experience an entertaining night out back in the roaring 20s, definitely check out this immersive theater show. It was a feast for my eyes and ears as I was transported back into time listening to some of the great standards and walking among performers who were dressed to 20s perfection. The cast is extremely talented, fun and make you feel like you are part of the story.
My camera and I had a lot to take in that night. The set and costumes are gorgeous. This is the kind of show where you really benefit from exploring and engaging with everyone. The fact that the story is based on the life of a real Ziegfeld Follies girl, was also appealing to me because I am a history buff.
Definitely dress up if you want — have fun! Wear comfy shoes as you may be standing for most of the time, (just like a night out at a club) but it is SO worth it. In between acts there are so many areas to explore, grab a drink, sit down, talk to people and feel like you are out on the town back in the day. I went alone and had a blast. They do sell VIP tickets that include dinner and seating, but I was very happy with walking around and changing my vantage point.
Overall, it’s a fun, sexy, decadent night out.

One of the best nights I’ve EVER had in NYC was spent at this truly exceptional show!
It absolutely felt like my friend and I had time traveled into the past, back into the early 1900s, and were about to see a Ziegfeld Follies show. The performers were all extremely talented and captivating, and actually interacted with us! A man playing Florence Ziegfeld himself approached us with his business card and asked us to audition to be one of his showgirls. Robyn Adele Anderson (of Postmodern Jukebox fame) blew me away with her vocals, and Delysia LaChatte killed it as Josephine Baker!
Not only were the singing, dancing, and costumes stunning and authentic, the scenery was so believable, and there was so much to explore and experience between acts as well. The visual eye candy (a crystal chandelier with gorgeous ladies in the air!) also reminded me of something out of one of my favorite movies, Moulin Rouge.
I loved that it was in a hidden theatre, with a password needed to enter, and that a murder mystery was unfolding right in front of our very eyes– on stage and off!
My friend and I dressed up for the evening in attire from the era, and had the absolute best night — highly recommend! (We were sad to leave the fantasy and return to reality, and would really like to see it all again!)

Ah… so nice that I went twice.
If you wish to make great night of being in Times Square, then make it a night in Paris in the 1920’s and attend the Midnight Frolic
The very best way to enjoy this show is to come dress up like the time period it portrays (perhaps you may come and act like a character from that time period) and interact like you’re actually there
Frolic /​sin /​sex /​drink while you’re trying to figure out «Who Done It «
All the characters are magnificent… and don’t get me stated on the chandelier

One of the worst experiences we have had in the city. I have been a NYC resident for 10 years and we have been to many «speakeasy clubs»… This was a let-​down. After buying the tickets beforehand, we were told that it would be standing room only. Fine. We come up to the check-​in/​box office… They have some tables available. Great… If you want to pay for bottle service… Starting at $ 70 per bottle per couple. Oh, and we’re sold out of $ 70 bottles. Basically just a money pit for tourists who don’t know any better. The show was fine. The MC was laughable and was doing a lot of «shmacting» but I guess that’s the «style» they’re going for. The aerial work was amazing but other than that it was mediocre dancing and talented singers doing 1920’s covers of modern songs.
We tried to complain to the management that it was not what was advertised and the quality was not what we felt we’d paid for. He was completely unhelpful. He said that he had nothing to do with the show and all he managed was the food/​drink. This venue is completely mis-​managed. I hope that it is fixed soon because the space is beautiful and what is currently in there is a waste of your time and money.
Do not waste your time, or more importantly, your money.

this show is a STEAL on groupon for ~$ 40 *without dinner*.
it’s a theater wrapped up in a speakeasy.
you time travel back to the 20’s into a «who done it» interactive musical /​play.
be sure to dress UP and do bring comfy shoes to walk around in.
be sure to be open to interacting with the scenes/​actors.
the set design is amazing and the actors are so talented.
don’t pay attention to other reviews that say the execution is poor — you actually have to pay attention and figure out the story /​mystery. that means listening to the lyrics/​songs which tell you WHERE TO GO. you have to remember clues to piece things together (admittedly, difficult when inebriated. XD)
GO SEE IT.

A truly magical evening. So many details, you won’t want to blink in case you miss it! Immersive theatre at its most elegant.

As I’m writing this review I’m torn because I really want me to looooove it. But think my expectation walking in was too high after all this raving review. We were, 4 girls, dressed the part and ready to «immerse» into the play. However, it wasn’t so «easy» todo so… however still a fun experience. Wear comfy shoes, a lot of standing 2.5 hrs.
1. Venue: venue was pretty, small old theater, the play uses front of the theater, small stage area for performances, such as dance/​acrobat etc, and the back of the theater, for more interactive play. You can enter the back part by going up there stairs next to the stage; it’s «Paris» there, and hence your paper «passport» given. however, we had no idea where paris was, since no signs or anything, it was so crowded that maybe the front people got «instructions or explanation» that the back of the theater was paris, but we were at the tail of he crowd and had no idea.
There are different scenes and «areas» but not that extensive, Paris n Paris hotel, balconies, and main theater. Glass encased room inside Paris hotel is where the «act» happens, but too many people so couldn’t see some of the acts.
I’m not sure if the venue was appropriate for this kind of play, or maybe it wasn’t coordinated right, but it was hard to try to figure out what was happening, bc we were not informed where something was happening.
2. is it a dinner theater or just theater?: so we were trying to find out if food was available? They said it’s available through out the show, however this is not what u think, it’s not like they have a bar and u order food thru out the show. It’s table served, tables are reserved, front of the play, and they own that table for the entirety of the play seems like. So if you want to have some seating get table n order food, at least you would have a place to sit. Standing in heels for entire show, which is like 2.5 hours, is extremely hard. think if we had some seats, we wouldn’t have been so tired and enjoyed more.
3. Performance: the actors and dancers are good, can see that they are professional and passionate. and it’s kinda cool since they perform next to you, sometimes talking to you asking question, kissing your hand like you just met at a bar flirting, sitting next to you and other actors play, telling you stories etc. unlike huge Broadway production where you are restricted to seat and kinda far out watching, having the chandelier dancers in your FACe, performing is super cool.
All in all its a really fun and neat concept, not to mention having excuse to dress up like flapper and experiencing little of roaring 20s. But think could have been executed so much better. This location and theme is pretty new so I’m thinking maybe learning curve? but a general «map» of what everything is n where it will take place would be good. General summary of what will happen and what things to look for wold be good too, without giving details. like what «guests» should look for in this act, or general as the play.
There were numerous songs and performance but we couldnt figure out how it relates to the play.
And, everyone coming should «dress» the part… like sleep no more everyone is given a mask. To have that Massive immersive ambiance. maybe they should give out feathered headbands n fake bead necklace to ladies and those plastic hat gentlemen, and require a jacket, to have that effect. patrons can return them after the show or something.

One of the best interactive, immersive theater shows I have ever been to.
My boyfriend and I went all out and dressed to play the part of 20’s prohibition, got boozy with the ziegfeld ladies, explored the historical hidden theater (which is important to do — there’s so much to see and experience!) and made friends along the way. Truly a unique experience which left us walking away smiling. Truly impressed how you just meld into being an actor in the show.
Go check it out!

If you are into dressing up in vintage attire and fancy escaping into another world and era; time periods you may sometimes wondering about: «How would it been like living in Berlin or Paris in the 1920’s? When these two Cities were the metropolis of the world…
Being entertained by Anita Berber: Weimar Berlin’s Priestess of Debauchery, or Marlene Dietrich singing to you at the Blue Angel. What a night out !!!
Well just come and indulge in Ziegfeld’s Midnight Frolic, and I promise you these fantastic performers will dazzle and travel with you in this time machine.
Just make sure you will explore the whole venue, show and all the different stories which are going on several floors and rooms.
For example in the interval go one floor up and behind the stage, there you will find Paris, where mayhem and mystery is waiting for you. I met Diana who carries roses spiked with wannabe cocaine, in Weimar times it was real in our time its baby powder… we can’t even smoke on the street…
BUT «the divine signature cocktails» created at the Paris bar will compensate you; the names alone for each cocktail deserves an oscar: naming a drink syphilis, that is naughty !!! All cocktails are made with fresh herbs, flowers and seductive ingredients. You must try one !!!
Be prepared to walk around get involved and be curious! Simply don’t be shy.
Because you are walking around the fun as well is meeting other people in the audience, which you cannot do in an ordinary show where you are bound to your seat from start to finish.
«Ziegfeld is a big party of decadence.»
You will have so much fun, and so you must as the tickets are ranging from $ 80 to $ 280; the $ 280 ticket is VIP which includes reception, VIP balcony, dinner, drinks and this stimulating seductive show. It may sound pricy but it is not at all as it is an unforgettable experience and totally justifies the entrance fee.
I soooooo recommend this show for special occasions like birthdays, engagement parties, double/​single dates, group of friends, dressing up peeps, vintage lovers and just anyone who appreciates quality time.
Sorry guys no pictures for this review, just go and see it for yourself… I don’t want to spoil your fun.

A stunning piece of immerseive theater.
You have an entire historical HIDDEN Broadway theater to explore!
Why would you just SIT the entire time?!!
But even if you did, the stage show is so much fun and the aerial is some of the best I’ve ever seen. The Chandelier Girls might be the most iconic image– but the girls on the silks gave me goose bumps!
The story is intriguing and the actors really did their research. I was really impressed. I had a conversation with Florenz Ziegfeld about his theater, his father, his ex wife and other intimate details.
The theater it’self is stunningly gorgeous; such an amazing piece of history. and there’s no front door!!! It really is like walking into another world and time.
I can’t recommend this experience highly enough. It’s beautiful, entertaining, well researched, brilliantly acted, sung and danced.
My group completely lost track of time and nearly missed the last train home.
Time definitely gets suspended in this show– and it’s an amazing thing.

What an experience! Imagine Sleep No More but better! The burlesque was fantastic and the actors very endearing, it felt like I knew the characters personally. I didn’t know anything about Olive Thomas… her story is so tragic and interesting, and the cheeky and voluptuous blond who plays her is truly mesmerizing. It brought the whole story to life. I might add that the entire cast is devilishly handsome…
I have never seen anything like this show, it just transports you to a different time, a different world altogether. I don’t want to give away too many details because the whole beauty of this show is the discovery part and the interaction between you and all the delights going on around you. Go see this!

I came to see this with my husband and our two friends, we all had a wonderful time at the Midnight Frolic. It really is a unique experience and the creativity of it all is quite mind blowing… the set, costumes, choreography and interpretations of various songs (performed by live singers) was truly entertaining.
It’s not your «typical broadway play», it’s immersive, it’s a time warp back into the ‘20s. You really SHOULD get off your butt and walk around (there are plenty of unreserved seats available if you get tired of walking around… I would assume that you would pay for a reserved table or seat just to guarantee you have a seat to return to, not to plant yourself there ALL NIGHT and complain about the view being blocked by people who are fully taking advantage of the experience) and it’s not necessary but it really makes it even more fun if you poke around a bit, be nosy, talk to the cast, play the role they give you when you enter.
I salute all the cast and crew for their obvious passion and dedication for making this a beautiful experience. It’s clear that a lot of work and TLC went into this production.
A magical event – I totally recommend it!