March 2019

A Reunion of Epic Proportions

400 guests.

13 games.

10 quest lines.

2 sides.

1 battle.

Countless stories.

Welcome, demigods, to Mount Olympus!

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The gods have gathered their children here tonight to reconnect and engage in friendly inter-pantheon competition.

But not everything is as peaceful as it seems. Certain gods have gone missing,

and Mordial, the god of all gods, rises.

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It's up to you, demigod, to uncover the hidden plot to restore Order... or fight for Revolution.

Gaming

The gods welcomed the guests as their "demigod children"and enlisted them to help with quests, games, our volunteer designed escape room, and puzzles.

Theatre

Our 35 volunteer actors represented four mythologies: Greek, Maya, Chinese, and Egyptian.

Impact

We weren't restricted by the same boundaries of reality...I learned more about people, but even more about myself.

- ASCEND Participant

ASCEND highlighted important social issues, such as racial equality, gender parity, and environmental protection within a complex, themed narrative world.

Through direct physical engagement, participants left the experience knowing more about these issues and, most importantly, understanding their own agency in making change a reality.

Created, directed, and produced entirely by students at the University of Southern California, ASCEND incorporates live theatrical performance with interactive gaming to create an unforgettable, personal narrative experience.

Narrative Director:

Anahita Dalmia (anahitadalmia@gmail.com)

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Administrative Director/Production Coordinator:

Anastasia Barbato (anastasia.barbato@gmail.com)

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Director of Games/President of EscapeSC:

Madeleine Dile (madeleine.dile@gmail.com)

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Director of Design/Production:

Nicholas Griffith (nick.g.designs.things@gmail.com)

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Creative Director/Theatrics Director:

Jack McCarthy (jackdirects@gmail.com)