‘Sleep No More’ – Everything you Need to Know About Visting the McKittrick Hotel [2022 UPDATED]

The Creative Adventurer — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 20:29:11 +0000

Sitting here in the dead of winter, during the pandemic, I have time and time again closed my eyes and “dreamt I went to Manderley again…” I am dreaming of the time when I can return to New York and see ‘Sleep No More‘ again.

I had heard about ‘Sleep No More’ from various friends who had gone to see it and just raved about it. But the price tag always made me hesitate. Anyone who has gone to see it is oddly secretive about the experience. Therefore, I found it hard to validate spending $100+ per ticket when no one would tell me anything about it! But finally, after much back and forth and some encouragement from my friend, we bought our tickets. And I can safely say it was the best money I ever spent!

While I don’t want to spoil the experience for anyone, there are a few things I wish I’d known before walking into the doors. So if you’re curious and want a few clues as to how to make the most of your experience, then read on. This post is spoiler-free but I do have an additional guide with some spoilers. This is for those who want a more in-depth review of my experience.

What is ‘Sleep No More’?

‘Sleep No More’ is an interactive and immersive stage production. It is loosely based on William Shakespeare‘s Macbeth but set in a 1930’s film noir aesthetic. The show contains almost no dialogue but is filled with interpretive dancing to convey the scenes or stories. Unlike typical theatre, where you sit in one seat for the entire show and watch the plot unfold in front of you, ‘Sleep No More’ acts more like a choose your own adventure. The show takes place in the fictional “McKittrick Hotel,” which has many different levels to explore. There are over 100 rooms where you can follow the action and discover hidden secrets.

The three-hour performance is actually a one-hour loop performed three times. This way you can study the entire show from multiple angles, sometimes literally. You can see what might have been going on in a different part of the hotel while something else totally different is taking place down below.

The entire show doesn’t unfold in a perfectly linear fashion. While some storylines have a beginning, middle and end, others are tougher to put together. It is more like a piece of artwork to be interpreted and discussed. All that being said, it is absolutely one of the most unique experiences you will ever have. All the guests have the option to do whatever they want while they are inside the hotel. You can follow one actor/character throughout the entire hotel discovering their plotline or simple study and interact with the props found throughout the hotel.

Buying Tickets & When to Arrive

Sleep No More is back in 2022 after being shut down for more than two years due to the global pandemic. There are different options when it comes to buying a ticket; Maximilian’s Guest, Oz’s Guest or a Standard Ticket. All tickets are cheaper during the week rather than on the weekend so if you’re looking to save money definitely go for the weekday tickets. I also find weekdays to have a less boisterous crowd and the space is generally less crowded.

Ticket Options

Maximilian’s Guest tickets cost $314-360 per person! Your ticket includes a glass of fine champagne, a complimentary coat check and a reserved seat inside the Manderley Bar. Oz’s Guest tickets are $160-195 per person and include everything except for the champagne. I don’t know about you but I don’t think any champagne is worth that price! The last option is the standard ticket which costs $114-149 per person. There is nothing included in this ticket except for the entry. But since coat check only costs $4 there really is no reason not to get the cheapest ticket. The reserved table is only a benefit for those who don’t wanna go right into the hotel upon entering. Save your money and opt to go to a bar after the fact.

When to Arrive

Choose the earliest admission when booking your ticket. This means you’ll have the longest amount of time inside the hotel. Even with the earliest admission, go to the hotel to line up 30 minutes before that time. We purchased the standard tickets, arrived about 20 mins early and still got to spend around two and a half hours inside.

Covid Protocols

After booking your tickets, guests will receive an advisement email 24 -48 hours prior to their visit with the latest guidelines and requirements. As of March 7th, 2022, all guests must present a valid photo ID along with proof of full vaccination in the form of a physical or digital COVID-19 Vaccination Card. Guests are required to have received their final COVID-19 vaccine dose at least fourteen days prior to their reservation.

All guests will be provided with a KN95 mask upon entry which is required to be worn the entire time inside. This is worn under your Sleep No More theatrical mask that has been modified to fit on top of the KN95 masks. The sought-after 1-1’s have been altered to follow covid more strict protocols and generally, guests are asked to give each other some space. But since everyone often crowds into certain small areas this often is something that isn’t strictly followed.

Coat Check

You cannot bring anything inside the hotel with you—no phones allowed, no bags, and no coats. Everything MUST be left at the coat check, which is compulsory. If you didn’t get the coat check included in your ticket it costs $4.00 per person. Remember to bring some cash for the coat check as it speeds the check-in process along.

About the McKittrick Hotel

The location of ‘Sleep No More’ takes place inside the doors of the old McKittrick Hotel. The McKittrick Hotel was built in 1939 and was intended to be one of New York’s finest luxury hotels. But before it could open the hotel’s investors lost their capital to the war efforts. The hotel was left abandoned and condemned for over 50 years….or at least that’s the fictional story of the hotel. Ok, in reality, the buildings which are now used for the production were various old warehouses in Chelsea combined and converted just for the show. Over 100,000-square-feet (9,300 m2) were transformed by the Punchdown theatre company to create the great McKittrick Hotel. You can explore five floors throughout the show and a secret sixth floor, which only a few lucky visitors will experience.

How to get there

The hotel is located at 530 West 27th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenue. The nearest subway stop on the C or E train is either 23rd Street or 34th Street. From there, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the hotel. If you are trying to get there by taxi or uber, be aware that 27th street is not a thru-street, so it’s best to get picked up or dropped off a few streets over.

What’s with the Masks?

All guests are required to wear a mask throughout the entire experience. One of the reasons for this is that all the guests wear masks, but the actors do not. Therefore you can tell who is a guest and who is an actor. This design is a replica of the old Venetian Bauta masks, which were designed to hide the wearer’s identity. In ancient Venice, this allowed rich aristocrats to partake in some otherwise frowned-upon activities. While wearing a mask might seem odd, the show aims to make you feel like a voyeur peeking in on the actors. Sporting a disguise allows you to feel braver and perhaps let your guard down. You might feel less inhibited and even step out of your comfort zone.

If you wear glasses, the mask will not fit over the top of them. If you can get contacts, this might be the only way to enjoy the experience (which admittedly feels a little ableist). We’ve tried to figure out how to fit glasses over top of the mask, and it’s virtually impossible or at the very least uncomfortable.

What to Wear

What you wear to see the show is super important. The most critical of which is your choice of footwear! Since the night can be as long as three hours, you want to wear comfortable shoes. I saw so many people there wearing high heels, and by the end of the evening, they were leaning on walls and looked more exhausted than excited. If you are interested in following one character’s storyline, sometimes this requires you literally run after them to ensure they don’t get away and you miss their next scene. Without good shoes, you can’t chase after them.

I also think wearing something breathable and not too warm is helpful. It can get hot inside, and if you’re running around, you don’t want to be wearing a wool cardigan. Since you have to coat check anyways, you can always wear something warmer there and leave those extra layers at the coat check.

Another thing which is a strange one but is a MUST is a wristwatch! Since you won’t have your phone to tell the time, a watch will help you gauge how long you have been inside. Or when the first or second loop of the show might end. While getting lost is part of the experience, if you’re someone who wants to get the most out of it, having a watch to tell the time might help you out.

Accessibility

Sadly, while you ride an elevator up when entering the hotel for the first time, the experience is not wheelchair or walking aid friendly as the elevator is not for public use after that point. So much of the show involves moving around dark, narrow passageways, sometimes very quickly. Accessing the various floors is done by using the steep wrought-iron staircases. If you have a hard time standing for an extended period or need a mobility aid, this might be a challenging outing for you. I really hope they change it over time to make it more accessible, but it seems unlikely since the show has been running for so long. The entire production is also very, very dark, so if you have low vision or claustrophobia, you might also want to give it a miss.

Be Warned…

The show is not just an immersive experience. It is an interactive experience. Actors approach you very closely and may even touch you. They might even pull you with them to another room for the elusive 1:1s. If you don’t want to interact that closely with them the actors are very good at respecting if you pull away. But if you are super shy, just stay in the back or in a group of people. If you are interested in a more intimate experience, go to the front and don’t be afraid of getting close to the actors. But please respect everyone’s boundaries and only touch the actors if they interact with you first and of course don’t be a creep.

There are various employees who wear black masks located throughout the show, these are essentially security guards there to protect the actors and keep the audience from entering any off-limit areas. If you are using your phone or talking too loudly they will step in to warn or remove you from the show. They are also there to give you directions if you to find a washroom.

Strategies for ‘Sleep No More’

Follow an Actor

Personally, I think there are two main strategies you can use to experience the show. The first is to follow one character as soon as you get inside. This allows you to see their storyline from start to finish. This definitely is an excellent choice for first-timers, as it feels like you are following a more linear storyline.

If you are the first to get inside the hotel, all the main characters will be gathered in the basement where King Duncan is hosting a ball. There you can choose an actor who piques your interest and follow them from there. But remember, they move quickly, so be ready to run. If you don’t arrive right at the start of the first loop, make it a point once you enter to find a scene or group of actors and follow whoever interests you. If you don’t see anyone right away, just keep moving, and you will find them soon enough.

Search and Explore

The second way is to investigate. This means more or less ignoring the actors but going off on your own and exploring the entirety of the building. You are allowed to look inside drawers, pull books off shelves and read them. Open doors, find keys to locked rooms. Even crawl through hidden access points. There is so much to explore in the hotel. Every little thing is a clue to the story you are literally living in. It’s not very often you are given carte blanche to be a voyeur, to go through other people’s belongings or snoop inside medical records. So use this change to your advantage. And of course, you can blend a little bit of either strategy together to experience everything the hotel has to offer.

More Tips

Leave Your Friends Behind

While you might feel like you want to stay close with the group you came with, the experience is intended to be your own. Everyone finds their own interests in the show. It’s essential to allow yourself to explore what you are drawn to and your own personal desires. Talking is absolutely banned, so it’s not like you can chat with your friends anyway. If you feel really scared and apprehensive make a plan with whoever you’re with to head inside the first few rooms together and then break away separately for the rest of the evening. This allows you to slowly get used to the atmosphere but then break out on your own.

Follow the Music

Music is a vital part of the show. In fact, it is the only way in which the actors are given any cues. There is no central control room. At only three points in the show, the same music plays in all the different parts of the building. If you feel lost or like you might want to rejoin a large scene, keep an ear to the ground for loud music, and you will surely be lead towards the actors. On the other hand, if you want to get away from the crowds, stick to the more quiet parts of the building.

It’s 18+ for a Reason

All guests attending Sleep No More must be over the age of 18 years with valid ID. Any guest under the age of 18 years old must be accompanied at all times by a ticketed parent or legal guardian. A signed Under-18 waiver must be submitted by the ticketed guardian at time of entry to the house manager on duty. This is because not only does the show depict violence and has a lot of blood and gore there is full frontal-nudity in various portions of the show so you might want to re-thinking bringing the whole family.

Arriving at the Hotel

After arriving at the hotel, your name will be on the guest list. Present your ID and give all your worldly possessions over to the coat check. You will then proceed over to the reception desk, where you’ll receive a playing card. You have no printed tickets. This playing card is the only “ticket” you’ll receive. Depending on your arrival time will determine the number on your card. The earlier you arrive, the earlier you will be let inside, so try to arrive as early as you can. This is as far as I will go in terms of discussing what happens when you enter as this is a spoiler-free post. But if you are interested in reading about the stories which influenced the plot of “Sleep No More’ read on!

A Brief Summary of the Story

I know EVERYONE seems to say its best not to know anything about the show before you go, but I really disagree. While having your own experience and interpretation of what happened is great, just like in appreciating art, sometimes a bit of context goes a long way to helping you on your journey.

About Macbeth

If you’ve never seen or read Macbeth, this little synopsis will help you out in understanding the scenes you might glimpse in on throughout the show. Macbeth is a general in the army of King Duncan, the King of Scotland. One night he is visited by three witches who prophesize that he will become King of Scotland.

King Duncan announces that his elder son Malcolm will become the new King after his death. Until that time he instructs Macbeth to care and guide him. When King Duncan comes to visit Macbeth’s manors, Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to carry out the prophecy and kill Duncan. Macbeth carries out the deed even though he is pained to do so. Malcolm flees in fear of his own life, only to be suspected of the killing, therefore allowing Macbeth to inherit the throne.

Banquo, Macbeth’s best friend and a general in King’s army, was privy to the meeting with the witches and suspects Macbeth. Macbeth has Banquo murdered, but his sons escape. Macbeth is visited by the ghost of Banquo, who haunts him. He meets with the witches once more who warn him that MacDuff, another nobleman in the army, is a danger to Macbeth. And he is convinced he must kill MacDuff. Macbeth has MacDuff’s family murdered and his property sized, but MacDuff himself escapes. The heir to the throne, Malcolm, returns to take back the kingdom against the murderer Macbeth.

Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth is slowly going insane, haunted by the ghosts of her actions. The doctors tell Macbeth she cannot be cured. MacDuff confronts Macbeth and kills him, bringing his head to Malcolm, who hails himself King of Scotland.

About Rebecca

Woven into the Skaespearan plot are elements of Hitchcock‘s haunting gothic romance film ‘Rebecca‘ (which was just made into a modern Netflix film!). The plot of Rebecca concerns a young woman who marries a widow, Maxim de Winter. They return to live at Maxim de Winter‘s mansion called “Manderley“. There she meets the unkind Mrs. Danvers, who dislikes the new bride as Mrs. Danvers she was so close to his previous wife, Rebecca. The new Mrs. de Winter discovers that the previous marriage had been a shame. During a confrontation between the couple, Rebecca fell and struck her head. It might have looked like Mr. De Winters had killed her, so he took the body out in a boat and capsized it to make it look like she drowned. Mrs. Danvers, enraged by the discovery, sets Manderley on fire and kills herself in the blaze.

The story’s central theme is all about guilt and anxiety, as well as love, obsession and power. Throughout the show, keep an eye out for these themes and characters as they appear throughout. The Hitchcockian influences can be seen not only in the plot but in the set decorations and also the music that plays throughout the building. You will hear from time to timepieces from Bernard Herrmann‘s score from the movie ‘Vertigo’. Even the name, the McKittrick Hotel, comes from Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo’.

Selznick International Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

About the Paisley Witch Trials

The third and final reference woven into the fabric of the show is the Paisley Witch Trials. These were the last European witch trials, which took place in Scotland in 1697. The witch trials involved accusations from an eleven-year-old aristocratic girl, Christian Shaw, who accused several of her family’s servants of being witches. In the end, seven people were found guilty of witchcraft and condemned to death by her words. The five who were hung were executed in Gallow Green. The town of Gallow Green can be found on the 4th floor of the hotel. Several of the accused men and women who died in the trails can be found wandering those streets. It is rumoured that before Agnes Naismith (one of the accused witches) died, she cursed everyone present at her trial and their descendants. Perhaps that curse still infects the grounds of Gallow Green today…

After the show, you can head up to the Gallow Green rooftop bar to enjoy a few themed drinks. Or you can also choose to stay in the Manderley Bar to enjoy some evening entertainment.

Click here to see more about the experience as a whole and my personal account of the evening!

The post ‘Sleep No More’ – Everything you Need to Know About Visting the McKittrick Hotel [2022 UPDATED] first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

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