Our most recent performance, Bottom Of The Ocean, ran from 2021 through 2022. In BOTO, five visitors are led by three spirit guides through a surreal sequence of invented rituals. Through introspection, catharsis, and connection, the guests dive into the self toward an inevitable destination.
“Themes of change, death and rebirth abound in this peculiar production, a triumph of style and low-budget ingenuity.”
The New York Times Critic’s Pick review of Bottom Of The Ocean August 2022
Watch the official video trailer of Bottom Of The Ocean.
“I am filled with awe, wonder, and joy at what I am able to see, do and experience. While exploring an alien world, and taking part in the most unusual of rituals, I somehow feel completely catered and cared for.
In short, BOTO is beautiful, unique, and has my absolute highest recommendation possible.” - The No Proscenium Review published November 2021
BOTO SOUNDTRACK
Bottom Of The Ocean was, in some ways, an immersive musical. Several songs were written for the performance, and many were sung, call and response, between the audience and the performer. The songs were eventually recorded and released on a 5 song EP.
BOTO GRAPHIC NOVEL
One of the props in BOTO was a 227 page hand drawn diary that revealed the backstory of the performance’s resident ghoul, Obsid. Replicas of the diary were published in a limited pressing and sold to fans of the show. Now that Bottom Of The Ocean is closed, a PDF file of Obsid’s diary is available to all, downloadable here for free.
One of our favorite documents of BOTO is our lyric video for Tidal Wave Town. This song was originally written for Houseworld and was also prominently featured in Bottom Of The Ocean. Our lyric video is made of footage from equal parts BOTO and Houseworld.
Audience Reviews
“BOTO is a dive into inner darkness to find light. In a dream-like state, I was able to parcel out some personal stuff and get a new perspective on it all. At the climax, a beautiful sound bath allowed me to experience astral projection for the first time. It was unforgettable. This is not mere entertainment, this is about you. The more you give yourself to it, the more you will be rewarded. There’s nothing else quite like it.” - wingawek
“It was by far one of the best things I’ve ever seen. The story, acting, art direction, costumes, lighting, music and singing were just exceptional. The show made me glad to live in NYC where passionate artists are creating things like this. Skip Sleep No More and check this out. You won't regret it.” - Nate T
“My favorite part of immersive theater is always when it can feel the closest I can come to being in a dream during my waking life, and BOTO achieves that in a way that's far beyond anything I've experienced before. It's a surreal, dreamlike, and genuinely beautiful experience” - Taylor T
“I left with a completely different energy than when I walked in. I arrived anxious and somewhat cynical, and left completely calm and transformed. This was directly a result of the amazing experience the collective put on.” - Lauren S
“I wasn't aware of how much I needed to see this performance, and wished that I could take the whole production home with me. But I now have a goal to find a way to feel this way on my own. I'll be thinking about this for a while.” - Charley M
I highly recommend Bottom of the Ocean. I came by myself, and it's a great solo activity. This is more of a meditative experience than a narrative show, but I ended up enjoying that. The whole thing, especially after living in a pandemic for two years, was calming and cathartic and intimate. - Tessa S
“Intimate, whimsical, healing and moving. Full range of emotions procured by extremely talented and energetically comforting artists. My face hurt from smiling so much. Great natural high. Worth every penny. Highly recommend!!!!” - Emily F
“Amazing experience. Wrenched me drastically out of my per-diem for two mysterious, sensual hours, made me feel and think, then threw me back into the ocean, good luck! The protagonist is YOU. You will be asked many questions. It will give back as much as you put in. Trippy and conversational, full of stories and color and tastes and a mesmerizing, complex soundscape. Loved it.” - Lawrence K
“we all cried. it was awesome.” - Alice J
The Vestibule
Each performance of BOTO naturally generated a maximum of four self portraits from the audience. Over the months of presenting Bottom Of The Ocean, our audience created hundreds of self portraits which eventually covered the four walls and ceiling of our vestibule. Click on these images to see hi-res close-ups of the room. If you were one of the visitors to BOTO, try and find your drawing!