Dragon Spring Phoenix Rise tells the story of a secret sect in Flushing, Queens, that possesses the magical power to extend human life, and the twin brother and sister caught in the struggle to control it. Fast-paced kung fu dance sequences unfold in front of, around, and above the audience in this original production designed specifically for the soaring, flexible space of The McCourt in The Shed, New York.

Studio Leigh Sachwitz once again teamed up with director Chen Shi-Zheng and the creative crew for a multimedia extravaganza. For this unique theater production, we created an immersive experience where the viewer felt like they were sitting in an installation – not in front of a stage. It was important to take the audience on a journey with the actors. To do so, we created a 360-degree projection mapping that covered the entire space, floors, walls ceilings, the actors and the audience.

Written by Kung Fu Panda’s Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, Dragon Spring Phoenix Rise features songs by Sia remixed by Bobby Krlic (a.k.a. The Haxan Cloak) and Arca, movement choreography by Akram Khan, and martial arts choreography by Zhang Jun.

Photos by Stephanie Berger.
Documentation Video by Offsite Productions and The Shed

Artistic Direction: Studio Leigh Sachwitz

Video Design: flora&faunavisions GmbH