WHAT IS IT?
An experience unlike anything performed on a stage, THE GRIFT sweeps its audience into a thrilling adventure, turning everyday theatergoers into master con men.
Part theater and part game, THE GRIFT is an unforgettable immersive event.
Dropping its audience of just 50 into the middle of an adventure in which they are trained in the art of the con, participants meet characters, solve clues and get a masterclass in the ways of the grifter, all in the interest pulling off one final swindle to take down a seamy criminal mastermind.
the art of the con
Audiences will have their intelligence tested and get trained in scams like The Pig In The Poke, The Round-The Corner, and The Money Swap...but in the end will they be sharp enough to take down an evil genius at his own game?
"Inventive, ingenious, unfolds with a whole lot of style, smarts and charm…like stepping giddily into a junior-varsity version of ‘The Sting.’” —UT San Diego (Critics Pick, Top Ten Play Of The Year)
PRESS
The Stage ★★★★ Londonist ★★★★★ Reviews Gate ★★★★ The Stage ★★★★ Critical Mass ★★★★★ The Upcoming ★★★★
The Stage ★★★★ Londonist ★★★★★ Reviews Gate ★★★★ The Stage ★★★★ Critical Mass ★★★★★ The Upcoming ★★★★
“A QUIRKY, INGENIOUS AND ALTOGETHER DELIGHTFUL PIECE OF ENTERTAINMENT. DEVISER AND DIRECTOR TOM SALAMON HAS CREATED A LOGISTICAL MASTERPIECE THAT PALPABLY CONVEYS A SENSE OF DANGER AND URGENCY AS IT PROGRESSES. A HECK OF A LOT OF FUN.” —WHAT’S ON STAGE ★★★★
“INFECTIOUSLY GOOD FUN.” —THE STAGE ★★★★
“IMPRESSIVELY WELL EXECUTED...AN ABSOLUTE BLAST.” —LONDONIST ★★★★★
“EVERYTHING YOU WANT FROM A TRUE IMMERSIVE THEATRE EXPERIENCE – A SETTING THAT FITS THE STORY LIKE A GLOVE, ACTORS THAT MAKE YOU FORGET THEY’RE ACTORS, SMALL DETAILS THAT BUILD OUT THE STORY’S WORLD, AND A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE THAT PUTS YOU RIGHT IN THE THICK OF THE ACTION AND COMPELS YOU TO PARTICIPATE." — LONDON ON THE INSIDE
“HUGELY ENTERTAINING.” —REVIEWS GATE ★★★★
“EXQUISITELY ENJOYABLE...THE CAST OOZE ENTHUSIASM. A FUN RIDE IS GUARANTEED.” —THE UPCOMING ★★★★
"INVENTIVE, INGENIOUS, UNFOLDS WITH A WHOLE LOT OF STYLE, SMARTS AND CHARM…LIKE STEPPING GIDDILY INTO A JUNIOR-VARSITY VERSION OF 'THE STING.’” --UT SAN DIEGO - CRITIC’S PICK
TOP TEN PLAY OF THE YEAR —SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE
“COMPREHENSIVE AND ELABORATE. HATS OFF TO SALAMON FOR HIS WILD IMAGINATION AND METICULOUS ATTENTION TO DETAIL. IT’S TONS OF FUN — IF YOU GET INTO THE ACT." --TIMES OF SAN DIEGO
EVENT PICK OF THE WEEK --SAN DIEGO READER
“SMART! I COULDN’T HELP BUT HAVE FUN.” --CITY BEAT
HISTORY
The Grift premiered in 2015, produced and presented by Tony-Award winning La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, CA. An inventive, unique, and wildly entertaining piece of immersive theater, it enjoyed a sold-out eight week run and was named a critic’s pick and top ten play of the year by the San Diego Union Tribune. In 2017, Tarento Productions brought The Grift to London, where it enjoyed a successful nine-week run and was called ”an altogether delightful piece of entertainment” by What’s On Stage, “Infectiously good fun” by The Stage and “an absolute blast” by Londonist.
BIO
THE GRIFT is the latest offering from pioneering immersive theater writer/director Tom Salamon, whose previous credits include Accomplice (NYC, Los Angeles, and London—produced by Neil Patrick Harris and The Menier Chocolate Factory), Goosebumps Alive (The Vaults, London) and immersive experiences for Amazon Prime, Netflix, Starz, and others. Tom has developed immersive experiences for the Walt Disney Company for use in their theme parks, cruises and tours.
Most recently Tom has been directing IP based experiences for CAMP throughout the US: Disney’s Encanto (Thea Award Winner), The Little Mermaid, Bluey for the BBC, Trolls for Universal, and others. These shows have grossed $38 mil in ticket revenue and 970k audience in three years.
