Haunted Soiree: A Macabre Cocktail Party

In 2022, House of Spirits pulled off the feat of dethroning Delusion as my favorite Halloween event of the year. Returning this year with a new name and more intimate location, Haunted Soiree was probably the Halloween experience I was most excited for. Ever since my first one back in 2019, the creators of this event have offered something diverse, creative, and seasonal. I couldn’t wait to see what they offered this year.

Exit Light

The creators of Haunted Soiree bought a theater in downtown Glendale earlier this year. It’s smaller, but also much more customizable to fit exactly what they want to do with the show. It’s also got a lot of interesting architecture, and keeps all the entertainment easy to walk between. The theater is going to be renamed the Nocturne theater and will be used for future events as well–they’re already planning their own spin on “A Christmas Carol” this December!

The lobby/lounge is properly lit for the season. Attending on a Sunday night looks like a good idea, as there wasn’t a huge crowd. Smaller groups ensure more personal time with the spirits. As is standard, the area has a cash bar while you wait. Like last year, attendees are given an oversized tarot-esque card that acts as your ticket for 4 or 5 themed mini cocktails. A costumed spirit welcomed us, then went over the rules and basic information, although we didn’t get any of the “lore” that we did last year. That was a nice touch, and I was disappointed it didn’t continue this year. From the website, I learned this year’s narrative, Theatre du Vaurien, is “loosely based on the Cabaret d’Enfer, Le Théâtre du Grand-Guignol, historical figures, famous hauntings and other legendary folktales from various regions of France across the centuries.” You definitely get the French influence throughout the night!

Enter Night

The main entrance is very impressive. Emerging from a dark hallway onto a balcony overlooking the central theater in all its glory is a really nice moment. Haunted Soiree is a bit like a theme park–you can do anything you want, but with several attractions, what do you prioritize? Many people immediately started with photos or one of the included drinks. I wanted to talk with spirits to learn the story, so I headed for a decorated area in back. If the green lighting and droopy netting didn’t make it clear, the first wonderfully-costumed character I spoke to called this area “the swamp.”

I heard her creepy tale, then got my first cocktail, themed to the swampy surroundings. After a brief chat with another spirit, I headed for the closest attraction–a variation on a haunted maze. This was different from last year (a true maze) and also different from theme park mazes, which are one-way paths. It starts with a narrative scene, and a little ritual to protect us from monsters. Awesome! Great mood-setter. However, the actual maze was a bit disappointing. It’s very small, with most of it dedicated to an element that Angel of Light also used this year. However, that element is hard to do if you’re holding a drink, which most people are. And the ritual to ward off monsters didn’t play a role either, which was a bummer. If the ritual paid off at the end, or if they used the space better, I’d be happy to overlook the small size. Zombie Joe’s Urban Death show uses their small maze VERY well.

Take My Hand

With my companion giving me the rest of her drinks to finish, I was already having a great time. Next up was a big performance in the central theater, which acted as a hub for the entire Soiree. A band had been playing all night, usually moody covers of pop songs. Now they took a back seat to a scantily-clad acrobat performing on a twirling hoop. The music, motions, and sensuality worked great together.

This was followed by a more up-tempo performance. What started as burlesque turned into something else, as the dancer proceeded to strap a metal plate to her stomach. Adding a rotating power tool, she shot a stream of sparks into the air, while continuing to dance. Fun! With the audience standing on the floor with the performers, it felt like everyone had a good view. After the live show, it was time to hit the upper floor and the big attractions.

Off to Never Never Land

Upstairs contained a whopping 3 attractions and another live performance space. Haunted Soiree brought back the “Creature Challenge,” where your group is tasked with collecting 5 items from demons/spirits, all of whom have spectacular costumes and inhabit their own themed area. Although the demons are scary looking, this is not a jump scare zone–they will guide you to the items if you ask for help. Collecting all 5 items gives you a clue to understanding the narrative theme of the event. I love this sense of accomplishment and learning secrets. Let’s have more of that!

Probably the highlight of the upstairs is a short theater piece, performed for a very small audience in a dark room. It’s spooky, almost risqué, and feels like a satisfying conclusion to the evening’s story. The only catch is that you can see this scene anytime, even early in the evening, without learning the events that came first. I’d suggest this should maybe be soft-gated to be seen after you finish the creature challenge.

There is also a bar with an outdoor balcony for fresh air. The highlight of this bar is a massive Ouija Board that will answer your questions in real time. It is good at bantering with you, and responded deftly to my slightly-inebriated questioning. The fourth attraction is a pleasant surprise. Upon finishing the aforementioned Creature Challenge, you exit into a smaller cabaret-like performance space. Featured here are a magician who does some truly original and impressive illusions, and returning singer/dancer Dana Benedict as Pierrot the clown. I could have stayed in this section for quite a while longer, but I still needed to finish the story using the clue from collecting the 5 talismans!

Enter Sandman

We reached the end of our quest, learning details of the haunting in France, and it was another good story. Like last year, the conclusion was revealed in a creative way. However, it takes you out of the experience a little bit, with its digital reliance not jiving with the night’s physical emphasis. Overall, Haunted Soiree is a ton of fun. Like a spooky Disneyland, the free-roaming playground lets you do what you want, when you want, but makes it harder to tell a specific story. Haunted Soiree is perfectly happy to present their ghostly tales in pieces the audience can discover in the manner they prefer. I only wish there was a way for people who “do the work” to be rewarded. We talked to the spirits frequently, and I was pretty blatant about asking for secret scenes. Alas, I didn’t talk to the *right* spirit, so I didn’t find them. (As an environmentalist, I also wish they could find a way to move away from multiple plastic cups per person. Would paper cups kill the vibe too much?)

Haunted Soiree’s new location in Glendale has plenty of affordable parking nearby. There is a coat check, although it was kept air conditioned inside, so I wore my sweatshirt. There are 3 ticket levels; $64 gets you 4 cocktails, $73 adds a 5th cocktail, and $88.50 adds a selection of imported French chocolates, plus first entry into the experience. This year the truffles were pre-packaged instead of being paired with the cocktails, and you get them in a fun little exclusive scene with a character. I recommend the middle tier, which is a great deal compared to the pricing of similar Halloween events. More details about Haunted Soiree, including ticket purchases, can be found at their website here. It only runs through 10/31, so go soon!