San Francisco’s notorious culture of cults returns this spooky season in an interactive theater experience that will either scare you silly or trap you in a nonvoluntary commune. This year’s iteration of Terror Vault, an immersive haunted house presented at the San Francisco Mint, is titled “The Initiation” and is inspired by the city’s rich history of being home to so many strange and bizarre cults. Joshua Grannell, also known as local drag sensation Peaches Christ, is coproducer of Terror Vault and sits down with Alta Live to explain this twisted concept, discuss the region’s penchant for religion gone wrong, and reveal some secrets from the vault. Join us—if you dare!
About the guest:
Peaches Christ is a filmmaker, event producer, and cult leader living in San Francisco. Her infamous movie events are self-produced in San Francisco at the legendary Castro Theatre before they tour. She also produces and hosts events in partnership with Polyarts management for symphony orchestras, and her holiday show annually plays London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall. Peaches is a filmmaker, the alter ego of Joshua Grannell, writer and director of the feature film All About Evil. The award-winning dark comedy gore film stars Natasha Lyonne, Thomas Dekker, Cassandra Peterson, Mink Stole, and Peaches herself. Joshua is the co-owner of Into the Dark production company, which produces immersive theater, including the hugely popular Terror Vault show at the historic San Francisco Mint building. Peaches has appeared in many films and television shows during her career.
About the show:
Into the Dark—the Bay Area production company spawned from the creative, twisted minds of Peaches Christ, David Flower Productions, and Non Plus Ultra—will present “The
Initiation,” a brand-new, fully immersive haunted experience opening at the San Francisco Mint. A combination of theater, 4D effects, and haunted mazes, “The Initiation” invites thrill-seekers to attend a recruitment seminar for Insight, a spiritual cult whose sole purpose is to open their eyes to true consciousness and help see the horrors hiding within the darkness.
Warning: Few survive “The Initiation.”
“The event is inspired by San Francisco’s rich history of being home to so many strange and bizarre cults,” said Joshua Grannell, a.k.a. Peaches Christ. “From groups like the Manson Family and the Symbionese Liberation Army to people like Jim Jones and Anton Lavey,
we’ve taken this inspiration and crafted a show where guests become members in the play and must make their way through becoming part of the cult while surviving its evil leadership.”
“The Initiation” will accommodate groups of up to 10 at a time, with time slots available every 15 minutes. Tickets for “The Initiation” range in price from $55 to $85 (based on performance day and time) and are available now by visiting terrorvault.com.•
