From the 2018 Denver Immersive Summit. Courtesy Jenny Filipetti and David Thomas.

The ‘Retrospectacle’ will be a celebration of the Denver area’s immersive community

Off-Center is partnering with the organizers of the 2018 Denver Immersive Summit to co-host an immersive community gathering called the Denver Immersive Retrospectacle on Thursday, August 15, in the Seawell Ballroom.

‘Retrospectacle’ Keynote Speaker Jaakko Stenros

The Retrospectacle will be a celebration of the past, present and future of Colorado’s immersive arts-and-entertainment scene, a one-night summit that will capture the energy and accomplishments of the Mile High immersive community while giving makers, producers, performers and patrons a chance to mingle during pre-event activities and a post-event mixer. At least 200 are expected to attend. Tickets are now on sale.

The evening will feature a keynote by Jaakko Stenros, a Finnish game researcher and scholar who specializes in playfulness through a variety of game types. His talk will center on Nordic Live Action Role-Playing (otherwise known as LARP), which pushes the boundaries of immersive form and content through a variety of themes and structures. After sharing examples and ideas from these experiential worlds, a panel of Denver artists, puzzle-room designers and other immersive creatives will reflect on how they can incorporate these possibilities into their fields of practice.

Stenros also will deliver a Mixed Taste lecture the night before (Aug 14), also in the Seawell Ballroom.

The Retrospectacle will serve as a year-in-review of major local immersive productions and accomplishments in the areas of theatre and dance, art and installations, attractions and events, and everything in between. Summit attendees will receive a copy of the Denver Immersive Summit Yearbook, a handy who’s who of regional immersive art and entertainment creators and producers.

The Denver Immersive Summit is a grassroots organization dedicated to bringing together the diversity of immersive art and entertainment through educational and social programming. The Summit was founded in 2018 by University of Colorado Denver professors Jenny Filipetti and David Thomas.

“I’m excited that the Retrospectacle will follow last year’s wildly successful Denver Immersive Summit as another opportunity for the local immersive arts community to gather, connect and learn together. This event will be for immersive creators, producers and fans alike – everyone interested is welcome,” said Off-Center Curator Charlie Miller, who is producing the Retrospectacle with DCPA Associate Producer Grady Soapes.

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter

The Denver Immersive Retrospectacle

• Thurs, Aug 15
• Seawell Ballroom
• Doors 6pm
• Event from 7-9pm
• Post-event mixer until 10pm
• General admission: $25
• Student tickets: $10 (must present student ID to pick up at will call)
• 30 & Under Radvantage Member tickets: $15
• GET TICKETS

More about Keynote Speaker Jaakko Stenros

Jaakko Stenros (PhD) is a University Lecturer in Game Studies working at the Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies (at the Game Research Lab, University of Tampere). He has published eight books and over 50 articles and reports and has taught game studies for a decade. Stenros studies play and games, and currently he is working on understanding game rules, the making of larps, and uncovering the aesthetics of social play, but his research interests include norm-defying play, game jams, queer play, role-playing games, pervasive games, and playfulness. His work has received many awards, such as the prize for the best dissertation of the year at the University of Tampere. Stenros has also collaborated with artists and designers to create ludic experiences and has curated many exhibitions at the Finnish Museum of Games. He lives in Helsinki, Finland.