In anticipation of Lionsgate and Blumhouse’s upcoming film “Imaginary,” in theaters March 8, L.A. horror fans will get to encounter a new name in terror — Chauncey the Bear — with the new immersive pop-up experience “Blumhouse Presents: Chauncey’s Imaginary Playhouse.”
Directed by Jeff Wadlow, “Imaginary” stars DeWanda Wise as Jessica, a woman returning to live in her childhood home with her family. once moved in, her stepdaughter Alice (Pyper Braun) becomes infatuated with Chauncey, a stuffed bear found in the basement. As Jessica grows concerned about the sinister connection between Alice and Chauncey, she realizes Chauncey might be more than just a bear.
“Chauncey’s Imaginary Playhouse,” designed by Experiential Supply Company, makes its way from the playhouse to Chauncey’s basement, where attendees can explore the world of the horror film and “discover the terror that is the truly special friendship between Chauncey and the young Alice.”
“We love creating experiences where our movies can come to life,” said Jason Blum, Blumhouse CEO and founder. “Your teddy bear will never look the same, and‘Blumhouse Presents: Chauncey’s Imaginary Playhouse’is the perfect way to get audiences ready to see the movie.”
Wadlow added, “’Imaginary’is not just a scary story about a forgotten imaginary friend looking for revenge – it’s a movie about the terrifying potential of imagination, and how it can be used to access a frightening new world with very real consequences. Giving fans the Playhouse treatment will fully immerse them into Chauncey’s world and set the table for what’s coming on March 8 when‘Imaginary’hits theaters.”
“We also have seen audiences thrill at experiencing horror come to life, as with our SAW experience in Las Vegas,” Dani Otero, senior vice president of global paid media at Lionsgate, said. “When you combine that with Blumhouse – a name audiences trust to uniquely and authentically scare them – you get an extremely fun and memorable marketing experience that’s the perfect setup for a terrifying movie.”
“Blumhouse Presents: Chauncey’s Imaginary Playhouse,” located at 8175 Melrose Ave in Los Angeles, makes its debut on Feb. 23, then is open to the public through March 2. (It will be closed from Feb. 27-29 for a special event.) The hours of operation are 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Admission is free and reservations can be made here.
