Prepare for a journey into the unknown, as the Merced College Theater Department resurrects its beloved haunted house production with “The Temple of Gloom.”
Your adventurous tour guides at the Designated Exploration Department (D.E.D.) are standing by to take you on the trip of a lifetime! Brave tourists are beckoned to uncover the mysteries of the cursed temple of the sun, where every decision could be your last.
Back by popular demand after its spine-tingling debut with “The Last Masquerade” in 2022, this immersive haunted house experience promises even more chills and thrills as you navigate a maze of rooms and hallways featuring human sacrifices, bugs, an ancient crypt, and the drowned Princess Sofia. Once inside the temple, there’s no turning back.
The production, featuring the creative talents of over 30 students and alumni, will run Saturday and Sunday, as well as Oct. 25-27 and 29-30 at the Merced College Theater, 3600 M Street in Merced. Doors open at 6 p.m. each night, with shows running until around 9:30 p.m.
The narrative centers around archaeologists and siblings Conrad, Kaya and Ana Cannon, and their excavation of the temple of the sun in the late 1960s. Excavations at this site led to the Cannon family’s theft of many Mesoamerican relics, including a sacred skull belonging to the royal family.
Conrad and Kaya are interested in the fame and fortune such a skull could bring them, while Ana wants to return the skull to its people. When Ana attempts to take back the skull, she is held captive by the sun monarch. With the skull disappearing inside the temple’s crypt, can you help select the correct skull and lift the curse before it’s too late?
“The entire team has worked to create an interactive experience where the audience’s choices determine what’s going to happen next,” said director Lauren McCue-Bryx, Professor of Theater at Merced College. “Scares still lurk around every corner, but there’s a story to follow as well.”
Merced College students have once again worked tirelessly to design the costumes, masks, props, sound, and video content, develop the script, run tech, and perform in this unique production. The set and lights, designed by Theater Production Lead Chad Phillips, offer a fully immersive environment that has been carefully crafted to transport visitors into the story’s world.
This haunted experience lasts approximately 10 minutes, but the memories may haunt participants much longer.
Tickets for The Temple of Gloom are $10 per person, with group rates available upon request. Tickets are valid for any date during the run of the production, but attendance is first come, first served. Due to the themes and scares, the experience is recommended for ages 12 and up. No refunds will be offered.
A special free performance by the Merced College concert band will take place in front of the haunted house on Oct. 29.
Merced College’s Community Education department will be operating concessions and taking payments via cash, credit or Tap to Pay. An assortment of popcorn, candy, cotton candy, and beverages will be available for purchase. A food truck will also be present at the event.For more information about The Temple of Gloom haunted house experience and to purchase tickets, visit: https://bit.ly/4ha0a3G