opia
n. the ambiguous intensity of looking someone in the eye, which can feel simultaneously invasive and vulnerable—their pupils glittering, bottomless and opaque—as if you were peering through a hole in the door of a house, able to tell that there’s someone standing there, but unable to tell if you’re looking in or looking out.
-The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
Opia House
An Immersive Experience Company
Opia House is dedicated to creating immersive theater experiences that transport our audiences to another world. Started in Denver by Leah Cardenas and Beau Fisher, we work to curate shows that engage audiences through story, play, and empathy. We believe that theater should be more than just a passive experience - it should be something that engages all of your senses and leaves you feeling transformed.
Creative Team
Original logo design by Theodore Grey
One guest at a time will be invited to join a community of people where they will share stories, hobbies, or even burdens, and, if they are lucky, the group will be blessed with a visit from SALT MOTHER herself. Since we lost our last place to the incident, we've got a beautiful new space, delicious drinks, and wonderful company. Who could ask for more?
Described by NoPro’s Denver Rep Danielle Look as “a shockingly simple, yet artfully dramatic, performance that allowed the characters to quickly develop a relationship with me, then leverage influence over me in subtle but effective ways.”
SALT MOTHER premiered at Denver Fringe Festival in 2022 and recived the "Most Immersive" superlative.
It was written and created by Monte D. Monteleagre. Directed and produced by Opia House, with original music by Louise Lately, business card design by Ellis Macmillan.
SALT MOTHER is flexible and can appear anywhere people are willing to wait for her, we've even done an impromptu hot tub performance.
This is an easily tour-able show that will give audiences a unique journey, unlike any they've ever had before.
5+ actors plus one stage manager are necessary for this show
Multiple options are available for your theater to produce including just the script, the script with Opia House's notes, or direction by Opia House. Please reach out to us with any questions or if you'd like to have SALT MOTHER come to a city near you.
Feels Like Yesterday
“Feels Like Yesterday” premeiered at the Denver Fringe Festival in June 2023. It was created and devised by Leah Cardenas, Beau Fisher, Kevin Douglas, Melanie Ochoa, Soleil Kohl, and Breanne Nicole Wilson. It is a show we created about friendship. It’s also about love, death, loss, childhood, playing tag, letters, listening to music, and being grateful for the joy our friends bring us. I wanted to give people a safe space to think about their chosen family and maybe give them a gentle nudge to reach out more.
This show is dedicate those friends of ours who are no longer here; Savannah Marie & Justin Hofferber to name a few. 💛
Our show is designed for 5 audience members at a time with each ending looking a little different than the others.
Review by Daniel Riha of No Proscenium:
Feels Like Yesterday had the crucial elements I look for in an immersive experience: a simple story that tangibly progresses; choices for the audience where their interaction affects how events unfold in the experience; opportunities to freely engage with the actors...As the decades-old friend group reunited and made small talk, they introduced the audience members paired as their plus one guest for the reunion. It became apparent that the friend group was one member smaller than it was when they were kids, as the audience learned that the missing friend passed away years prior. As they reminiscenced about their friend and how they are missed, a sensation of sadness emerged, juxtaposed by a desire to live life to its fullest and cherish what you have in the moment. And, most importantly, to not let life’s complications get in the way of maintaining the foundational friendships in your life.
