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Halloween Horror Nights And/Or Visceral Theatre

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Date Issued:
2014
Abstract/Description:
Visceral [vis-er-uh l]-adj1. of, relating to, or affecting the viscera2. characterized by intuition or instinct rather than intellect((")visceral,(") def. 1-2)The above words speak to define far more than merely the word (")visceral.(") They speak to also embody and classify a previously untitled form of theatre. Visceral Theatre: A form of theatre that uses the instinctual awareness of the audience- the audiences' perception of popular culture, societal contexts both historical and geographical, as well as their instinctual-physical aversion to danger- to cause physiological and emotional responses through the overstimulation of the senses in a non-tactile attack.For the past eight years I have been intimately involved with the creation of Halloween Horror Nights, an annual event held each September/October at the Universal Orlando Resort. The basis of the event is the celebration of the holiday of Halloween by creating Shows, Street Experiences, and Thematic Mazes in which to fully immerse hundreds of thousands of guests in various environments.This thesis will use the example of Halloween Horror nights to frame the discussion of Visceral Theatre. It will be presented through the lens of creator, designer, director, and collaborator of the entertainment offerings within the experience. It is my hope to answer the question: What is Visceral Theatre, and how HHN, as it is commonly referred to, earns the right to be defined as such. What makes this experience Theatre?
Title: Halloween Horror Nights And/Or Visceral Theatre.
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Name(s): Braillard, Patrick, Author
Niess, Christopher, Committee Chair
Brotherton, Mark, Committee Member
Listengarten, Julia, Committee Member
, Committee Member
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2014
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Visceral [vis-er-uh l]-adj1. of, relating to, or affecting the viscera2. characterized by intuition or instinct rather than intellect((")visceral,(") def. 1-2)The above words speak to define far more than merely the word (")visceral.(") They speak to also embody and classify a previously untitled form of theatre. Visceral Theatre: A form of theatre that uses the instinctual awareness of the audience- the audiences' perception of popular culture, societal contexts both historical and geographical, as well as their instinctual-physical aversion to danger- to cause physiological and emotional responses through the overstimulation of the senses in a non-tactile attack.For the past eight years I have been intimately involved with the creation of Halloween Horror Nights, an annual event held each September/October at the Universal Orlando Resort. The basis of the event is the celebration of the holiday of Halloween by creating Shows, Street Experiences, and Thematic Mazes in which to fully immerse hundreds of thousands of guests in various environments.This thesis will use the example of Halloween Horror nights to frame the discussion of Visceral Theatre. It will be presented through the lens of creator, designer, director, and collaborator of the entertainment offerings within the experience. It is my hope to answer the question: What is Visceral Theatre, and how HHN, as it is commonly referred to, earns the right to be defined as such. What makes this experience Theatre?
Identifier: CFE0005138 (IID), ucf:50711 (fedora)
Note(s): 2014-05-01
M.A.
Arts and Humanities, Theatre
Masters
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): Theatre -- Halloween -- Horror -- Theme Parks
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005138
Restrictions on Access: campus 2019-05-15
Host Institution: UCF

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