Audience Experience Consultation Services

for Theatre, Events, and Immersive Entertainment

by Jessa Blackthorne, Audience Experience Strategist

I help live events create audience participation that feels exciting, intentional, and unforgettable.

From theatres to conventions to immersive entertainment, I design audience experiences that invite people in while keeping productions in control.

The Problem

Audience participation can be one of the most compelling and powerful tools in live theatre, but only if done correctly. In the wrong hands, it can also be one of the most mishandled.

When a production doesn’t clearly define what it wants from its audience, the result is confusion, anxiety, and an experience that is memorable in all the wrong ways, with performers who don’t know how to respond, FOH staff who don’t know what rules to enforce, and an audience that doesn’t know whether they’re allowed to have fun.

I have seen this problem happen at all levels of theatre, from small community theaters to Broadway houses, and I want to do something to help.

The Solution

I work with productions to close the gap between what you want your audience experience to be and what your audience actually experiences. I will help you define your participation philosophy, prepare your cast and crew to receive and respond to audience energy, and communicate your expectations clearly before the house even opens.

The goal is for the audience to feel welcomed into the experience, and for the production to feel in control of it.

What I Offer

Services:

For Theaters:

  • Audience participation strategy

  • Cast training

  • Front of house alignment

  • Preshow communication

  • Immersive lobby experiences

For Conventions & Fan Events:

  • Interactive programming design

  • Crowd flow and engagement

  • Facilitator training

  • Live game hosting strategy

For Brands / Events:

  • Experiential audience moments

  • Fan activation strategy

  • Community-driven engagement

services might look like:

Pre-Production Consultation: We sit down together and define what kind of participation your show actually supports, identify and differentiate between moments that invite audience energy and moments that should be protected, and build a communication strategy around that.

Cast and Crew Preparation: Your performers learn how to receive audience interaction through improvisational practice and simulation exercises. These simulations will help them stay present when something unexpected happens and find the balance between protecting the show and letting the audience in. Your FOH staff learns how to communicate your expectations consistently and confidently.

Audience Communication: I write the program insert, pre-show announcement, signage, or whatever materials your production needs to set clear expectations based on your specifications and tone-matched to your show so it feels like part of the experience rather than a disclaimer.

Lobby Design: I create a lobby design plan that immerses your audience from the moment they walk through the door, with guidance on décor, atmosphere, and seamless integration of audience participation elements.

Broadway/Regional Theaters

Immersive Productions

WHO I WORK WITH:

Community Theaters

Cabaret, Burlesque, and Nightlife

Brand Activations

Conventions

Fan Events

Why Me?

I have nearly two decades of experience developing and executing audience participation experiences. This includes over a decade performing and directing in a shadowcast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, where managing audience participation is an essential part of creating a successful production. Beyond Rocky Horror, I’ve directed and performed in productions, both musicals and plays, where the audience is as much a part of the show as the cast. Through that work, I’ve spent years learning how to properly prepare for, shape, and execute this unique kind of live theatrical experience.

I’m also currently one of the most visible voices in the national conversation about audience participation in theatre, with content reaching hundreds of thousands of people across TikTok and Instagram.

In addition to theatre work, I have extensive experience facilitating large-group interactive games and live events at conventions, where managing crowd energy, improvising around unexpected behavior, and creating memorable participant experiences are essential.

I understand this from every angle as a performer, director, community leader, and audience member, and I want to share that understanding with you.

Let’s Talk

Every production is different, and pricing is based on the scope of support you need, the size of the theater, and the complexity of the audience experience you’re creating. Sliding scale options may be available for smaller theatres, community productions, and nonprofit organizations. Reach out with your project details and let’s see what makes sense.