Pro to Pro

Reflecting on the Legacy of “Sleep No More”

Sleep No More, the theatrical experience that pioneered immersive theater and forever transformed New York City will close after a nearly 13-year run. Those who have yet to wander the haunted halls of the McKittrick Hotel to witness a Jazz Age spin on Macbeth have until January 28, 2024, to experience its magic. Originating in London before making its way to NYC in March 2011, Sleep No More was created by Punchdrunk, which is helmed by the ingenious artistic director (and XLISTER) Felix Barrett, with choreographer/director Maxine Doyle. It is produced by Emursive in association with Rebecca Gold Productions. More than two million attendees have experienced 5,000+ performances over several floors of the McKittrick, which was designed specifically for Sleep No More. The experience put immersive theater on the map and served as many people’s first foray into the art form. XLISTERS and XLIST council members included. Keep reading to hear what experiencing Sleep No More meant to them, the legacy it will leave and what they found most inspiring, groundbreaking and masterful. INSPIRING THE FUTURE OF STORYTELLING “Sleep No More defined the full nature, boundaries and experience of ‘immersive.’ It helped us imagine what the future of theater could...