Around The Town Chicago
- Recommended
"...Every show is different up to a point. The stage setup is a tavern, with a bar that doubles as a play space for the two dungeon masters. Additionally, there are three improv characters who work to keep up with the audience and take whatever is thrown their way. Using a QR code, the crowd votes on key decisions for a frenetic, silly, and for most of us, a fun and dicey evening. This is not the stuff of a sturdy dramatic narrative, ensuring a cohesive meaningful story. This is pure spectator sport."
Chicago Theatre Review
- Highly Recommended
"...The show, a combination of improv comedy, immersive theater, audience participation and actual game play, is set in the Forgotten Realms, an official Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting. The set looks like a cross between a tavern and a frat-house, with large screens along the back that display the backdrop of any given scene, or display information for the audience. The cast includes the Dungeon Master (Conner Marx) and the Tavern Keeper (Alex Stompoly), running an adventure for a small cast of improv actors. The night I attended, original cast members Madelyn Murphy and Diego Salinas were joined by special guest Anjali Bhimani."
Third Coast Review
- Highly Recommended
"...Our mighty heroes have started their adventure. The Warrior (Madelyn Murphy), Mage (Diego F. Salinas), and Rogue (Anjali Bhimani). The goal? To save the Forgotten Realms. Projections designers Derek Christiansen and Ruby O'Brien help plant the audience in the scene-an alley that becomes the first unintentional stop on the quest. They happen upon three minor villains-more specifically, three ex-students of the Mage. He has seemingly failed them as a teacher and they are not happy about what went down. However, before they can officially begin a fight, the Dungeon Master (Conner Marx) reminds the players that they must role initiative."
Chicago On Stage
- Highly Recommended
"...Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern is ruining theatre as we know it! Audiences are invited to keep their phones on and available, with additional encouragement to take photos and videos during the entire show. Discussions with neighbors in the house turn to shouts directed at the stage, with no pushback from the performers. In fact, the actors are forced to incorporate these interruptions into their performance. Speaking of the house, it is only rarely left in the dark. Rather, the house lights keep the audience in a warm glow; disallowing any chance to be absorbed into the action on stage. In short, this show flies in the face of the traditional theatre experience and anyone hoping for a quiet night at the theatre should be warned."
Splash Magazine
- Highly Recommended
"...Currently playing at Broadway In Chicago's Broadway Playhouse at the Water Tower Place for a seven-week run through September 28, Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern is not your average night out at the theater. From the moment you walk in, you're not just going to be watching a show, you're playing it."
BroadwayWorld
- Recommended
"...Back in Chicago for following an acclaimed run Off-Broadway, THE TWENTY-SIDED TAVERN is a Dungeons & Dragons campaign come to life based on audience suggestions. Using their phones (yes, phones are allowed and even encouraged here), viewers can vote on which characters the actors will portray, decide which dungeons the adventurers will explore first, and play mini-games that are a matter of life or death for their favorite heroes."
