Worlds in Play is a gathering of play practitioners—game and theatre artists—exploring new forms of agency in storytelling and experience.







Allerton Park & Retreat CenterMonticello, Illinois
August 4-8, 2025




Registration is now closed.
Join the waitlist in case a spot opens up.

FAQ 






Share works in progress, playtest new ideas, and exchange hands-on practices with your peers.


Worlds in Play is a shared playground where artists invite one another into works-in-progress to explore new forms of agency in storytelling and experience. Through workshops, playtests, games, demos, performances, presentations, and other custom participatory formats, artists experiment in real-time, iterating in community with peers who have gathered in the spirit of curiosity.


The gathering brings together a vibrant spectrum of practices, including and beyond: Alternate Reality Games (ARGs), immersive theatre, Live Action Role Playing Games (larp), social practice, performance art, XR, Tabletop Role Playing Games, ritual, and party.


Learn more about last year’s event 

Objectives







Host collective studio visit for participatory practitioners to experiment and exchange practices.


Incubate adventurous artistic projects at various stages of life cycles.


Prototype innovative and sustainable models for producing participatory work.

Bolster the development of transdisciplinary fields centered around play.

Host collective studio visit for participatory practitioners to experiment and exchange practices.

Incubate adventurous artistic projects at various stages of life cycles.


Prototype innovative and sustainable models for producing participatory work.


Bolster the development of transdisciplinary fields centered around play.




Artists


The 2025 artist lineup will feature practitioners who are reshaping how we gather, play, and make meaning together.

In addition to the official programming, all participants will have opportunities to share work and playtest ideas through intentionally designed open blocks in the schedule.


Aaron Landsman  Multidisciplinary Artist
Alejandro Tey Theatre Maker
Alex CoulombeStudio Head
Alexander Devriendt
Theatre Director
Angela WashkoMedia Artist, Game Designer, Educator
April SoetarmanArtist & Creative Director
Arlo Howard Interactive Theatre & Game Maker
Brandon PowersDirector & Choreographer
Caro MurphyExperience Designer, Educator
The Fourcast LabDesign Collective
Jeff and Andy CrockerCo-Founders
Katie GreenExperience Designer & Immersive Theatre-Maker
Kevin LaibsonMixed Reality Artist
Michael RauLive Performance Director
Michaela Ternasky-Holland Artist & Director
Risa Puno Artist
Sammy StoneDesigner and Producer
Strother Gaines Therapist, Speaker, & Immersive Artistic Director


Stay tuned for more artist announcements in the coming weeks!




Partners


Stay tuned for more partner announcements in the coming weeks!





Location

This year’s event will take place at the Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello, IL. 



This gorgeous, 1500-acre, early 20th century estate is owned and operated by the University of Illinois and includes multiple lodging options including the original mansion, event spaces, a cafe, and countless gardens, trails, and outdoor spaces. Worlds in Play participants will be the sole occupants of the estate during the four days of the event, giving us lots of space to play and activate.


Join Us!


This creative retreat will truly be a world of its own, removed from society just far enough so we can really focus on creating connections and advancing this young meta-field of ours. Come share space and time with immersive theatre makers, game designers, experience creators, and innovative makers who defy categorization.

Jake Pinholster & Scarlett Kim
Co-Founders / Producers




©2024—’25

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