Cabaret dancers, murderers and Macbeth will spill from the stage and into homes in Norfolk during ROŪGE: Theater Reinvented’s inaugural fundraiser, "PlayNight," on Saturday.
"PlayNight" transforms three homes in Ghent and Talbot Park into theaters, with scenes leading people through the different rooms. Guests choose between three Broadway plays: "La Cage aux Folles," "Murder on the Orient Express" and "Sleep No More," and indicate their level of interaction, from being a cocktail-sipping spectator to a play participant. Organizers request that attendees dress in a manner that suits the theme of the show.
Each home has been modified and decorated to varying degrees.
“La Cage Aux Folles,” for example, will feature a 4-foot sign outside the house and a large dressing table with clothes and wigs, allowing guests to get into character. “Murder on the Orient Express” will drop a dead body in front of a fireplace and feature a train display in the basement. “Sleep No More” will create a “Hell Bar” in the attic and an Oracle’s Den in the sunroom.
“We're not just delivering a show, right? You can do that anywhere,” said Maya Pagtakhan, stage supervisor. “What we're actually delivering in this instance is a full-blown experience for our guests.”
The three shows take place simultaneously, so attendees must choose between a drag cabaret that celebrates self-expression, a traditional cocktail murder mystery and an eerie haunted hotel retelling of “Macbeth.”
Pagtakhan said it adds to the evening's excitement.
"You have to experience one. You'll kind of miss out on the others.”
The performance lasts one to two hours, depending on the show, with breaks for drinks and hors d'oeuvres. The audience is encouraged to interact with the improv-trained actors, who will be in character – even the bartenders are part of the story.
“If you ever wanted to ask Macbeth a question," Pagtakhan said, "he's standing right there.”
The evening was inspired by murder mystery dinner parties and “Novel Night,” where scenes from iconic books are reenacted by actors. It presents the opportunity to demonstrate ROŪGE’s mission of bringing art to people.
By foregoing the formal setting and partnering with people in the community, the evening emphasizes that “ROŪGE is here to meet people where they are,” Pagtakhan said.
The three hosts — all friends or fans of ROŪGE — have different audience capacities, depending on the size of their houses. The smallest can accommodate 35 attendees, while the largest can handle up to 150. All of the homes are within an 8-minute drive, keeping things manageable for organizers.
Executive producer Patrick Mullins said the event is not just a way to raise money but a way to build relationships. While traditional galas may have art auctions and bidding wars, Mullins doesn’t want a fundraising flash in the pan. He seeks experiences that inspire long-term community support.
ROŪGE offers accessible, sometimes free, shows and often brings performances to neighborhoods or areas without traditional theater spaces. Mullins said the company wants to inspire people to help ROŪGE “increase who we serve and how we connect to people.”
“We're working with artists that maybe the legacy institutions aren't built to serve,” he said. While these institutions are important, ROŪGE provides regional artists with a platform to grow and connect with the market.
Mullins hopes the fundraiser will expand to include more homes in Hampton Roads, as well as other accessible fundraisers throughout the year.
“I mean, we really are a startup,” he said. “So, in some ways, the community is teaching us what we need to be.”
Visit rougeva.org/playnight for tickets and more information. Street Parking is available at each location.