(Los Angeles, CA) In Los Angeles, behind the doors of a century-old mansion, something extraordinary unfolds night after night. Guests don’t just watch a show – they live it.
This is The Willows, JFI Productions’ hauntingly beautiful blend of immersive theater, psychological horror, and dinner party drama. It’s not a haunted house, nor a traditional play. It’s an experience that invites you into a family’s fractured world – one filled with secrets, grief, and the lingering question of what’s real. With hidden meanings inside every detail, The Willows isn’t something you just attend. It’s something you enter.
READ MORE: The Willows: An Immersive Horror Experience You Won’t Soon Forget
A Modern Murder Mystery
JFI Productions first launched The Willows in 2017, inspired by classic murder mysteries like Clue. The idea was simple but revolutionary: what if you could modernize the format – take the tension and discovery of a mystery dinner theater and let the audience become part of the story?
Since its debut, The Willows has sold out repeatedly, drawing both devoted horror fans and curious newcomers looking for something beyond the norm. Each performance feels personal. Guests are almost imperceptibly divided into small groups, moving through the home as they uncover fragments of storylines. No one group or individual will learn or witness the entire narrative. Instead audience members must work together to uncover the mysteries of the Willows family.
These remarkable storytelling methods, coupled with personal character interactions and carefully planned moments, ensure that no two experiences are exactly the same.
The Beckett Mansion: A Character Of Its Own
This year, The Willows takes the place inside the historic Beckett Mansion. Built in 1905, the sprawling property has appeared in everything from Sons of Anarchy to Halloween, but when JFI first found it, the mansion was a ghost of its former self.
“It didn’t have walls,” Justin Fix, founder of JFI Productions and director of The Willows recalls. “It was an empty house…We really transformed that place to feel like a real home.”
Today, it’s more than just a backdrop. Outfitted with a full lighting and sound system, the mansion is a character all its own, breathing life into the story, bringing depth to the atmosphere and settings, and acting as a silent participant in every scene. “The Beckett is a blessing,” Justin says.
A Story Of Family And Grief
At its core, The Willows explores raw emotion – grief, dysfunction, shame, anger, connection, and the essence of being human. Its innovative processes and format allow for a unique kind of audience vulnerability, offering space for expression, sharing, and being seen.
This emotional foundation runs through every performance. Many of the cast members have been part of the show since its 2017 debut, and their familiarity with the material allows them to inhabit it fully – not just acting, but engaging, provoking, and listening. The result is an experience that makes audiences feel. Attendees will laugh, cry, cringe, and reflect – all within the same twisted dinner party.
It’s All In The Details
Every choice in The Willows serves a purpose, from dinnertime seating to “accidentally” uncovered secrets. Nothing feels random. And carefully crafted moments, like sharing scraps of leftover bread around a kitchen island, lend the show a rare sense of intimacy and authenticity.
“It’s so in the details,” Justin explains, “If you want to see the recipes that Deirdre was cooking, [they] are there on the oven. For people who want to investigate the story and look deeper, it’s all there. Or for the person who just wants to go along and have a couple of glasses of wine and be taken on a ride, they’ll [have] just as [much] fun.” However the audience chooses to engage with The Willows, it’s meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime level experience.
Keeping Immersive Art Alive In LA
Creating immersive theater in Los Angeles comes with no shortage of challenges. Rising real estate costs, strict permit regulations, and the lingering effects of industry strikes and shutdowns have made it difficult for many independent creators to stay afloat. Yet JFI Productions remains dedicated to preserving and advancing this unique art form.
The company envisions The Willows as a lasting home for immersive storytelling. From their premiere haunt Creep LA to the unsettling family drama of The Willows, JFI continues to redefine immersive theater, blending narrative, hospitality, and emotional depth. Their work invites guests to inhabit a story for an entire evening, leaving them with lingering memories – whether eerie, tender, or introspective – that remind them what it means to truly feel.
As Justin describes it, “We build epic worlds.”
Keep In Touch With JFI Productions
While tickets for The Willows are currently sold out, JFI Productions is always working towards releasing new dates for this incredible production. Keep an eye on jfiproductions.com for future show announcements. And don’t forget to follow JFI Productions on Instagram and Facebook for all their latest updates.
