“I think being silly is really important.”

Playing pretend together is powerful stuff, and Andy Crocker knows this better than anyone. If you’ve experienced heartfelt shenanigans at Ghost Town Alive, or exchanged thrilling secrets in the engineering room aboard Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser, chances are you’ve come across Andy’s work.  As an Immersive Performance Director, Andy’s work involves creating unscripted moments that gives the audience a chance to dig into their inner silliness. 

In addition to her work with Interactive Performance at theme park experiences, Andy is also one half of Mister and Mischief. They create what they call “fun-forward interactive experiences designed to delight audiences and turn strangers into pals.” Escape From Godot definitely fits the bill as a play that suddenly becomes an escape room. Their more recent 40 Watts from Nowhere turned the guests into pirate radio DJ’s reliving the memories of Sue Carpenter, a kickass radio rebel. 

Andy takes the business of being silly very seriously. Her enthusiasm for spreading the joy of make-believe is palpable. She designs her experience to create a safe space for the audience to indulge in childlike joy. The power of make-believe is real, and no one believes in it more than Andy Crocker.  If you want to see the magic for yourself, don’t miss Andy’s talk at RECON this August, and make sure to get tickets for Escape From Godot.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

We are immensely grateful to our sponsors this season: Morty App, Buzzshot, and COGS. We truly appreciate your support of our mission to promote and improve the immersive gaming community.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 00:00 Sponsor Break: COGS by Clockwork Dog, Interactive Show Controls
• 01:32 Welcome to the Reality Escape Pod
• 01:47 Spotlight on Southern California and Recon 2024
• 02:03 Introducing Andy Crocker: A Creative Powerhouse
• 02:52 Diving Deep into Andy Crocker’s Creative Mind
• 03:32 Empowering Performances: Andy’s Talk at Recon
• 04:45 Escape from Godot: A Theatrical Game Experience
• 09:08 The Impact of Escape from Godot on Andy’s Career
• 13:21 Andy’s Journey from Improv to Immersive Experiences
• 17:38 Sponsor Break: Morty App, Discover and Track Escape Rooms
• 21:51 The Role of Casting in Andy’s Creative Process
• 25:15 Exploring Immersive Directing with Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser
• 28:16 Sponsor Break: Buzzshot, Escape Room Marketing Software
• 32:32 Ghost Town Alive: Directing Immersive Performances at Knott’s Berry Farm
• 34:45 A Glimpse into Ghost Town Alive: An Immersive Experience
• 35:10 Creating Magic with Minimal Technology
• 35:29 The Art of Blending Scripted and Unscripted Performance
• 38:25 Navigating the Challenges of Unscripted Performances
• 39:37 Personal Impact Stories: Engaging with Guests
• 40:57 Crafting Stakes in Immersive Experiences
• 44:40 Behind the Scenes of 40 Watts from Nowhere
• 48:32 Reflecting on a Multifaceted Career in Immersive Entertainment
• 51:53 Exploring the Role of Play in Today’s World
• 53:08 Artist in Residence at the L.A. Public Library

• 55:11 A Nostalgic Dive into a Game of Assassins
• 58:02 How to Follow Andy Crocker’s Work
• 1:00:20 Supporting the Immersive Gaming Community
• 1:02:55 Bonus Story: A Jar of Mayonnaise

Leave us a voicemail

Got a question or thought for the podcast? You can submit a voice recording by calling the Room Escape Artist not-so-hotline that always goes straight to voicemail (551-227-7273).

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

• Mister and Mischief website
• Knott’s Ghost Town Alive website
• REPOD Bonus Show Theme Park Edition: The Unhinged Rise of Mayor Law at Ghost Town Alive
• REA Review of Escape From Godot
• REA Reaction to Star Wars Galactic Star Cruiser

About Andy Crocker

IG: @misterandmischief

Linkedin: mister-and-mischief

Facebook: misterandmischief

Andy Crocker is a Los Angeles-based passionate goofball and professional creative.  Specializing in heartfelt shenanigans, Andy concocts participatory experiences for clients and collaborators of all scales: from IndieCade to Imagineering, from the old west (Knott’s Berry Farm’s Ghost Town Alive!) To space (Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.) Since 2017 she and her partner (Jeff Crocker) have worked as the design team Mister & Mischief, best known for their absurdist show/game Escape from Godot. When she isn’t working, Andy is busy with her most challenging project: raising an adorable live human child. 

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