Frequently Asked Questions

Pull up a chair.
Sit down.
Let’s talk When Shadows Fall.

This is Pseudonym Productions’ first major interactive experience. It’s new. It’s different. It is not like anything you have seen before. And because of that, we know you have questions. Lots of them. We’ve done our best to answer all of them below. If we missed any, just let us know.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is When Shadows Fall?
This new experience from Pseudonym Productions is an exciting new form of interactive entertainment that combines live performance with high-tech interactions and immersive environments to create a unique experience like no other. When Shadows Fall uses unconventional storytelling to incorporate the audience into the story as characters. Actors and audience members are equals in this collaborative, ever-changing narrative that features multiple timelines and endings, offering maximum re-playability.
Where are you located?
We are in an undisclosed location, roughly 15 minutes from Downtown Orlando, 15 minutes from Universal Orlando, and 20 minutes from Walt Disney World. You will receive our location upon purchasing a ticket. Until then, it’s a secret…
How long is the experience?
Not including any pre- or post-show time, When Shadows Fall lasts roughly 2.5 hours. But we encourage all Players to arrive 30 minutes early and stay up to an hour afterward, offering the ability to remain within our world for up to 4 hours.
Are there specific show times?
Yes. This is a theatrical production at heart and we schedule it as such. You must arrive by a certain time or you will not be allowed inside. Check our tickets page for a current schedule.
How much are tickets?
Prices for tickets to When Shadows Fall vary depending on the night and the show time. Check our tickets page for exact prices. Groups of 10 or more qualify for a group rate. Look for the Group Discount option when ordering tickets. You must order at least 10 tickets in one single order to qualify for the discount. Contact us with any questions you have.
Are group rates available?
Definitely! Groups of 10 or more qualify for a group rate. Contact us for more information.
Are there student/teacher discounts?
Yes! Look for the Educational Discount option while purchasing a ticket. Note that you must show a valid student or teacher ID when you arrive. Failure to do so will prevent you from entering and no refunds will be issued.
How can I get tickets in advance?
Tickets are available exclusively on our web site. Advance purchase is required. Just 44 tickets are sold for each show, so if you are interested in a specific date, grab it quickly before it sells out.
Is there an age restriction? Are kids allowed?
Right now, we are recommending Players to be at least 16 years old to enter. It’s really about maturity. We want our Players to not only be mature enough to respect our space, but also be able to engage with our actors and each other in a mature fashion. When Shadows Fall is a balance of thrilling fun and serious scenes and our Players need to be able to handle both. If this were a movie, it would be rated PG-13. If this were a video game, it would be rated M for Mature. So if you are a parent of a mature teenager, you are welcome to bring him or her as long as you are willing to participate and be responsible for his or her actions.
Will I be touched?
Emotionally, we hope so. Physically, most likely. Our actors may touch you and you may touch them back, appropriately of course. We respect you if you respect them. We will not tolerate roughhousing or inappropriate behavior.
How extreme is this? Does the show contain blood, violence, swearing, or nudity?
When Shadows Fall is intended to push boundaries and make our audience think and feel. Our story is a dystopian thriller, certainly unlike anything else in Orlando. There is no nudity in our show, explicit or otherwise. There are some scenes that contain simulated violence, some adult language, and a chance of blood effects. But those scenes play out with purpose to drive the story we are telling and are not gratuitous. We have 14 roles you can choose from, each following its own unique path through the production. Some are more intense than others. If exposure to adult content is a concern, please notify an attendant upon arrival and we will guide you toward our tamer roles.
What makes When Shadows Fall a dystopian thriller?
When entering our production, you will not just be arriving for a fun new experience. You will be leaving the Outside behind to join Penumbra, a society built on harmony and virtue that’s been hiding in Orlando for nearly 3 decades. Or, at least, that is the story we are telling. Unfortunately for Penumbra (and fortunately for you), nothing is as perfect as it seems within this utopian society, as it is crumbling in all sorts of thrilling ways. Hence, dystopian thriller.
What makes this a 'new form of interactive entertainment?'
There is truly no other production quite like When Shadows Fall. We have borrowed elements from a variety of different genres, show types, and disciplines to create a completely original take on live, interactive entertainment.
What is a Player?
We call our audience members “Players” as it is the most accurate title we can give you. You are not just watching our show, but living it. You possess the power to control how the story progresses through your actions and decisions. You are truly playing our live game.
What do you mean by real life video game?
We have been developing the concept of creating a hybrid of gaming and theater for so long that the answer to that question requires much more space than this FAQ page will allow. Check out our full explanation here.
Is this immersive theater?
That’s a tough question! We have indeed created fully immersive environments and we are presenting a theatrical production. But the term “immersive theater” has become so closely associated with a very specific type of production that it’s hard to nail down what does and does not fit. With the inclusion and heavy emphasis on gaming elements in When Shadows Fall, we are definitely not strictly “immersive theater” – but certainly feature many similarities. In short, if you enjoy silently wandering through old buildings watching scenes unfold around you, you will no doubt enjoy actually engaging in the scenes we present.
Is this like Sleep No More, Then She Fell, or other similar New York shows?
Not exactly. While we are all fans of those productions and have been inspired by them, When Shadows Fall is largely a different kind of entertainment. Our production does not feature any dance routines and we encourage our Players to interact and engage with our performers, sets, and props. In fact, it’s required!.
Can I just watch or do I have to participate?
While technically you could just stand in a corner and observe what’s going on around you, you’ll find it natural and easy to become engaged with our actors, story, and environments. You’ll want to explore. You’ll want to converse. You’ll want to play your part in shaping the story of Penumbra. And you’ll want to come back and do it again.
Is this scary?
The scariest part about When Shadows Fall is getting the courage to put your cell phone away for a few hours while you engage face-to-face in a social environment. Creepy, eh? But no, this production is not of the horror genre. It is a dystopian thriller, which means there are definitely mature elements – but no one will ever jump out and scare you.
Is this a haunted house?
Absolutely not. While our floor plan was designed in a similar way as a haunted house would be, When Shadows Fall couldn’t be any further from that type of entertainment. Our production involves deep character and story development, far more than you could ever get with a 1-second “gotcha” moment in a haunt. We absolutely love haunted houses – but this is not one!
Is this an escape room?
Definitely not. While some of the interactions we describe can make it sound similar to an escape room, When Shadows Fall is a completely different form of entertainment. You do not have a goal to escape. You are not trapped in a room. You will explore 15,000 square feet of intricately designed spaces, meet intriguing characters, and participate throughout.
Is this dinner theater or a murder mystery show?
Nope and nope. While there is plenty of mystery to be found in When Shadows Fall – and you may consume some items during the experience – we are not serving dinner nor are we presenting a ‘whodunnit’ story. And this is definitely not intended to be silly. This production will make you think and feel.
Is this a big budget attraction like I'd find in a theme park?
We aim to entertain in ways that Orlando has never seen before. We are nothing like a theme park attraction. We don’t have hundreds of millions of dollars to spend on a 4-minute experience.Nor are we interested in creating an experience that you leave having no idea what happened, but simply thought it was “cool.” With that said, When Shadows Fall did have a significant budget behind it in order to create elaborately themed environments filled with exciting interactive technology. We liken our production to an independent film – it’s edgy and unique, but created by a small team with a big passion for it. You will be impressed by how much we were able to accomplish at a fraction of the cost of a theme park attraction.
Who created When Shadows Fall?
We are Pseudonym Productions, a small new company in Orlando with a big vision for the future of entertainment. Right now, our core design team consists of just a few people. Two of us quit our jobs to work on When Shadows Fall full time. One moved from London just to work on this, just weeks after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. But we have had help from tremendously talented people throughout Orlando to create our sets, music, costumes, interactive elements, and more. When Shadows Fall is just the beginning of a longterm plan we have to revolutionize live entertainment.
I'm coming to Orlando on vacation in 6 months? How can I get a ticket now?
When Shadows Fall is operated like a theatrical production. We are releasing tickets a few weeks at a time. When those sell out, we will release more tickets for additional dates. Please keep checking back as your desired dates grow closer.
What if I need to leave early? What are your safety procedures?
Like any theatrical production, it is best if you do not leave early. That would be like leaving a play before it ends. With that said, we understand situations may arise in which you must leave before the production concludes. Whether that is due to your own choice or if an emergency takes place, we have an easy way out. Simply tell any of our actors that you must leave and you will swiftly be escorted out by one of our stage managers. Our experience is completely safe, as we have monitored audio and video surveillance throughout the space.
Do I really control the story?
Yes, our complex branching system allows our Players to make decisions throughout the experience that change not only their own story but also that of all the Players around them. It is our job to make sense of all that and wrap it up neatly in one of multiple scripted finales that will play out at the conclusion of the production, witnessed by all Players together. Read more about our story here.
Will I learn something?
We sure hope so. A purpose of this experience is to take the idea of a risk-free video game environment into a more real setting. You are given the opportunity to test yourself and push yourself in uncomfortable environments. You may do something in this game that you never thought you were capable of before. You are meant to learn more about yourself. The more you challenge yourself, the more you will gain from this experience.
What kind of shoes should I wear?
We recommend you wear comfortable footwear as you will be on our feet for the majority of the experience. However, if you can nail it in heels, go for it.
Is this a good group activity? Team bonding?
Yes, but not in the manner you might think. When Shadows Fall is designed as a first person experience. That is, we have created this with the individual in mind. If you arrive in a group of 5, for example, you may not see the other 4 people for the duration of the entire production. Or, more likely, you will see them in passing here and there, while each of you are completely wrapped up in your own stories. Or, it is possible for you end up unexpectedly working together. But ultimately, you should expect this experience to be all about you.
Can I take pictures? Video? Selfies? Snapchat?
Nope. We require you to relinquish all electronic devices before the show begins. A primary goal of When Shadows Fall is to get you to engage in real life, not via text message. We have places for you to safely store your personal belongings for the duration of the experience, though we recommend you simply leave them in your vehicle or at home.
Is this the same thing as The Republic?
The Republic was Pseudonym Productions’ proof-of-concept that paved the way for When Shadows Fall. Its 11-week run in 2015 allowed us to learn what we needed to know in order to put on this full-scale production. When Shadows Fall is no doubt far more polished than The Republic was, with each element of the production fully thought-out and designed throughout the 10 months leading up to our opening. We have completely re-written everything from the ground up. You may recognize a few familiar faces, characters, or story beats, but beyond that it is a vastly different experience. If you enjoyed The Republic, you will be amazed by When Shadows Fall.
What are the different roles?
You can meet our characters and read about the different Player roles here.
Do I need to act?
No, just be yourself. Or be whomever you wish to be. Think of our “roles” are your place in society, rather than who you are as a person. It is up to you to decide how you interact with our actors and other Players. There is absolutely no pressure to “perform” in any way. It is a game – so have fun!
Can I choose my role or will it be chosen for me?
We give every Player the opportunity to select which role they are most interested in playing – but we do so in a very in-story kind of way. There is no obvious “Choose Your Role” menu. Instead, simply pay attention to our surroundings on your way in to the experience. Show up early to offer yourself the most time to discover which role best suits you. Our goal is for you to not outright choose your role, but rather naturally select the role that best suits you, your personality, or how you are feeling at that moment. We want everyone to have a great time and certain roles will definitely suit some people over others.
When I come back and play again, how will it be different?
Each visit to When Shadows Fall is vastly different, not only depending on which role you are in but also what decisions each Player makes. While the same basic story is being told with each production, we have 14 roles available that will allow you to see that story from many different perspectives, following different characters through their places in the world. You might be in the Office spending the majority of the production investigating the seedier sides of Penumbra while next time you are exiled to the Labyrinth to help start a revolution. We strongly encourage all Players to come to When Shadows Fall multiple times to have a chance to see it all and learn the full story.