Inspiring Conversations with Alan Becker of Continuum Studios

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alan Becker.

Hi Alan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
We (Giz Gewirtz and Alan Becker) have long been fans of immersive theater from the early days of Sleep No More to the increase of immersive experiences after the pandemic. Both of us have a passion for and background in different creative industries, and we started talking about what types of immersive experiences we like the most. There’s a wide spectrum — from theatrical and passive (like Sleep No More in NYC), to theatrical and interactive (like The Willows in LA), to gamified and interactive (like narrative escape rooms like The Ladders at Hatch Escapes), to immersive and atmospheric (like Ghost Town Live or Delusion). What we loved were the shows where the audience has agency and can influence what happens in the narrative. We also wanted to create a show that could have appeal beyond the core immersive theater audiences.

These things were percolating in our heads when we decided to make it happen. We founded Continuum Studios 2 years ago and started writing and production on 1986-6-6 then.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is it ever a smooth road when you’re trying to make something new?

We’ve been super lucky to have an amazing set of advisors, consultants, and colleagues to help us make this happen. We have gotten immeasurable advice from some of the most experienced folks in the immersive world (big thanks to Mikhael Garver at Culture House Immersive and Starship Cruiser, Tommy Honton who did Stash House and others, Tommy Wallach of Hatch escapes, The Wild Optimists – Juliana Moreno and Ariel Rubin, Noah Nelson of No Proscenium and the community at the amazing conference they produce – Next Stage, and many others). We have also been joined by some fantastic talent and have an amazing cast of actors.

But there are so many stumbles along the way. We built something intricate and complex — and after finishing the first draft a year ago, we’ve done a slew of play tests with live audiences to see how the interplay of the narrative, the interactions and participant choices, and the immersive searching and discovery would all work best together. What has resulted is a set of probably 6 full re-writes and endless tweaks and iterations on puzzle, set, and prop design elements. It’s been a far bigger and harder task than we ever could have imagined.

We’ve also been super lucky to have Sonja Roden come on board as producer (and assistant director, and cast member). Her help and consistently amazing effort has been invaluable.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We formed Continuum Studios in 2024 to produce immersive experiences. 1986-6-6 is our first production.

Collectively, the folks behind Continuum have been known for well loved video games, large interactive art installations, and a diverse set of work in puzzles, games, and theater. We are just now building our brand, aiming at authentic, in-person experiences that focus on connection, humor, and immersive play. 1986-6-6 is a launching point, and we look forward to expanding not only with more original stories and immersive shows, but also other ways to enjoy the worlds our team is building. You’ll see us launch new seasons of 1986-6-6, new stories in the same style, and other ways to experience them (digital, table top, and more).

What matters most to you? Why?
Creating original, human-made, real world experiences for folks to enjoy together with their friends. We believe getting out into the world and taking an active part in an experience with other people is a critical part of our humanity and one that people are craving more and more as the world become digital and AI saturated. Our work strives to be an antidote to that, and a way to connect, have fun together, and do something new and different.

Pricing:

• Ticket Range: $66-86 for summer previews

Contact Info:

• Website: https://1986-6-6.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1986_6_6/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590651120479