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HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
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What happens when a show stops asking you to watch and starts inviting you to be seen? We sit down with impresario Randy Weiner, the creative force behind Sleep No More, Queen of the Night, The Box, and the new Phantom Masquerade, to explore how human touch, story clarity, and radical hospitality can transform a night out into a memory that won’t let go.
Randy traces his spark back to the balcony at Cats, where performers spilled into the aisles and changed his idea of what theater could be. From there, he breaks down why so many “immersive” attempts stall: great ideas without great execution. His approach feels more like opera than chasing the latest trend; cast world‑class talent, bring in award‑winning designers, invest in lights, sets, and sound that hold up inches from an audience’s face, and take responsibility for the entire journey, from box office to bar to goodbye. We dig into why Masquerade insists on formalwear and masks, how that shared ritual forges instant cohesion, and why the million‑dollar chandelier uses real crystals instead of plastic.
If you’re curious how to turn spectators into co‑conspirators, and why the details matter when audiences are within arm’s reach, this conversation is your blueprint. Follow the show, share it with a friend who loves live experiences, and leave a review to help more curious fans find us.
Recorded Tuesday, November 25th, 2025
Hosts: Damian Bazadona, CEO & Founder, Situation & Maureen Andersen, President & CEO, INTIX
Guest: Randy Weiner, Founder, Outside the Box Amusements
Producer: Peter Yagecic, Innovation Advisor, Situation
Chapters
1. Opening And Guest Introduction (00:00:00)
2. Why Put Audiences Inside The Story (00:00:50)
3. What Immersive Shows Get Wrong (00:04:10)
4. Building For Repeat Visits Through Care (00:07:12)
5. Lessons From Nightclubs And Venue Truths (00:11:05)
6. What Inspires And What Doesn’t In Immersive (00:12:42)
7. Marrying Entertainment, Design, And Hospitality (00:13:36)
8. Story Clarity Versus Spectacle (00:16:15)
9. Audience Agency, One‑On‑Ones, And Keepsakes (00:18:25)
10. Sponsor Message: INTIX Conference (00:19:05)
11. The Power Of Physical Mementos (00:19:46)
12. Performer Aliveness And Casting Realities (00:21:15)
13. Audience As A Central Character (00:24:00)
14. Dress Codes And Group Cohesion (00:27:05)
15. Nightlife Logic Meets Theater (00:29:25)
16. The Next Decade Of Immersive And IP (00:31:25)
17. Why We Love Fandom And Sports (00:34:20)
18. Coaching Traditional Performers For Immersive (00:37:20)
19. What To See Less Of And Final Takeaways (00:40:20)
20. Closing And Next Guest Tease (00:41:30)
21 episodes
