News

Find out what is happening at Cross Roads Escape Games! Here you will find the latest news: upcoming games, special events, prizes, and more!

reopening June 19th with new operating procedures

Open June 19th with new operating procedures

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After being closed for 3 months, we are excited to announce we will be reopening June 19th! Upon reopening, we are implementing new operating procedures to make Cross Roads a safe environment for both customers and our employees. Please read below to see the precautions we are taking to keep you safe.

  • Our games will remain private. Your group will not be paired with another group.
  • Games will be spread out so the lobby is not shared by different groups.
  • Game masters will have a full hour to reset and thoroughly clean all props, locks, and surfaces between every game using medical grade disinfectant.
  • All customers are required to use hand sanitizer before entering the games. Complementary hand sanitizer will be available.
  • Employees are required to wear face masks at all times.
  • Customers will be required to wear face masks when entering, but may be removed inside the games.
  • Employees will get their temperature checked at the beginning of their shift . They will not be allowed to enter the building if their temperature is above 100.4° F.

There are a few changes coming to our games as well:

  • The Hex Room- Some costume pieces have been updated to allow for easy cleaning between games. We have also removed the blindfolds initially required at the beginning of the game.
  • The Psych Ward- Players will no longer receive a patient gown. Instead, they will get a patient number sticker to put on their chest. The game master will also spend less time inside the game with the players and only enter when necessary.
  • The Fun House- We will not offer costumes for the after game photos at this time. We are also adjusting the minimum number player requirement from 4 players to 3 players, so smaller groups can play.

We look forward to having you back soon!

Madison Rhoades, Co-Owner and Creative Director

COVID-19 update

Cross Roads COVID-19 Update

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Hello everyone! My name is Madison and I am the Co-Owner and Creative Director of Cross Roads Escape Games along with my husband, Luke. I wanted to share with you an update as to how we are handling this time being closed and what new operating procedures we will be implementing to keep Cross Roads Escape Games a safe place to visit. 

Madison and Luke Rhoades, Co-Owners of Cross Roads Escape Games

First, I want to thank everyone who was very understanding about us having to cancel their upcoming booking with us. And we really appreciate those who were willing to take a credit code over a refund. I also want to thank those who purchased a gift card from us during this time. We really appreciate all the help and support our community is showing us.

Currently, we are under a government mandated closure until further notice. We are watching the news and constantly checking to see when we may be able to reopen. We want to make sure it is safe to open, and we are not putting our employees or customers at risk. We will be reopening as soon as we receive word that gatherings of up to 10 people are permitted. 

Our last day of operation was March 15th, which was also first day of our March Madness Escape Room Tournament. Sadly, we did have to cancel that tournament but many of the businesses who sponsored a prize are willing to work with us again on a future event, so hopefully we will see a similar event again soon.

In a previous update at the beginning of March, we mentioned that The Hex Room was going to close for a period in April to allow for a revamp. Unfortunately, the revamp is postponed for the time being. With other companies closing we are finding it difficult to get the equipment and supplies that we need. We also want to make sure we have the funds to support ongoing business expenses for as long as we may be required to close. 

Upon reopening, we are implementing new operating procedures to make Cross Roads Escape Games a safe environment for both customers and our employees. A few steps we will be taking are:

  • Groups will never come in contact with another group. We will have less available games per day to insure that the lobby is never shared by two different groups. The lobby will be cleaned between every group.
  • Longer resets, to allow ample time for sanitizing the games between use. Game Masters will have a full hour to reset and thoroughly clean all props, locks, and surfaces between every game using medical grade disinfectant. 
  • Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the building for customers and employees. All customers will be required to use hand sanitizer or wash their hands in the bathrooms before entering the games. 
  • Employees will be provided with a washable cloth mask.  Masks will be required to be worn around customers at all times. 
  • Props and costumes considered unnecessary to the game will be removed. To help prevent contamination, only necessary items will be in the game. 

We appreciate you being a loyal customer and we will continue to bring you high quality immersive entertainment. Because of your support over the years, we will be opening again soon.

Sincerely,

Madison Rhoades

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10 Board Games for Quarantine

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Hey everyone! It’s Madison. I am the co-owner, along with my husband Luke, of Cross Roads Escape Games. It’s a weird time right now for everyone. Businesses are shut down and everyone is forced to stay inside.  Everyone’s brain is going a little crazy because it is not getting its normal amount of stimulation or problem solving that it is use to. At least, that is how I feel.

I am the proud owner of a lot of board games. A LOT. So, if you need some activity in your life, here are a list of games I think anyone will enjoy!

My Board Game Shelf

I’m not too sure how many people or who you are quarantined with so I have given some guidelines as to who I think the games would be good for as far as age, group size, and complexity is concerned.

Let me know what you think! I would also love to hear of any board games you have been enjoying that I should add to my shelf.

1. SURVIVE! Escape from Atlantis

Ages: Kids, teens, and adults will all equally love this game.
Group size: 2-4
Complexity: Easy. You can learn it in 5-10 minutes.
BUY HERE

Survive! is super easy to learn, which makes it great for any age. I’ve played this game with my 7-year-old nephew, my husband, my siblings, and my parents. Seriously, it’s great for everyone. The game is pure chaos. But fun chaos.

About: “In this game, you try to lead your people from the sinking central island of Atlantis to the safety of one of four islands nearby. Your people can get there quickly by boat (if they find one) or more slowly by swimming. But it will be a perilous journey as they must avoid Sea Serpents, Whales, and Sharks.”

2. The Game

Ages: Kids, Teens, and Adults
Group Size: 1-5
Complexity: Easy
BUY HERE

This is technically a card game, but I like it so much that I actually carry it with me in my purse. The game is simple, but hard to win. Every time you play, you get a little better and better.

About: “Cooperative game that involves hand management and memory. You’ll have to work together with your friends to play cards into one of four different piles, with the hopes of discarding all 98 cards in ascending or descending order. The trick is, you aren’t allowed to tell anyone else what cards you have, so you’ll constantly be on edge as each card played could upset your best-laid plans.”

3. Codenames

Ages: Teens and Adults
Group Size: 4-6
Complexity: Easy
BUY HERE

I played this game last night with my whole family. Before you yell at me about social distancing, let me add that we were all in our own homes communicating through video! This game was pretty easy to play virtually, and you only need one person who owns the game. The Codename owner lays out the cards to create the playing board and takes a picture and sends it to everyone.  From there you can look at the picture/board and make marks on it using the writing tool on your phone to mark what agents have been found. It was pretty easy, and a great way to spend time with family while physically apart.

About: “The teams compete to see who can make contact with all of their agents first. Spymasters give one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the board. Their teammates try to guess words of the right color while avoiding those that belong to the opposing team. And everyone wants to avoid the assassin.”

4. Pandemic

Ages: Teens and adults
Group size: 2-4 (I recommend just 2)
Complexity: Medium
BUY HERE

What better game to play right now then Pandemic? This is a great game to introduce people into the more complex games out there. Once you know the rules, the game is easy to grasp, but hard to win. I recommend playing with only 2 people, although you can have up to 4.

About: “Four diseases have broken out in the world and it is up to a team of specialists to find cures for these diseases before mankind is wiped out. Players must work together and plan their strategy of eradication before the diseases overwhelm the world with ever-increasing outbreaks. A truly cooperative game where you all win or you all lose.”

5. Catan

Ages: Teens and Adults
Group Size: 3-6 (you will need the 5-6 player expansion for more people)
Complexity: Medium
BUY HERE

This is a classic game. If you haven’t played Catan yet, what are you doing? The description does not sound that interesting, trading resources sounds kinda lame, I get it, but this game is a lot of fun. Trust me. Every time that dice is rolled and its one of your numbers, you get an instant boost of endorphins and you feel unstoppable. My family loves this game so much, we have even created a Catan crown, that the winner wears, until they are dethroned of course. 

About: “Your adventurous settlers seek to tame the remote but rich isle of Catan. Get resources from Catan’s many harbors and regions: pastures, fields, mountains, hills, forests, and desert. Build your cities and rule of all Catan!”

6. Carcassonne

Ages: Teens and Adults
Group Size: 2-5
Complexity: Medium
BUY HERE

What I love about this game is that the board is constantly changing. It’s one of the few games where you get to create the board piece by piece, which also makes it completely different every time you play!

About: “Each new tile placed creates an ever-expanding board on which players can then add their followers.

As the map grows, so does the opportunity for players to disrupt each other’s plans. Everyone is adding to the same map and only one follower can be on any given feature at a time—so if you don’t place a follower on something, someone else probably will.”

7. Ticket to Ride

Ages: Teens and Adults
Group Size: 2-5
Complexity: Medium
BUY HERE

I was a little skeptical of this one at first, but it ended up winning me over after the first game. It is a lot like building roads in Catan, but with a lot more strategy.   

About: “Players collect cards of various types of train cars they then use to claim railway routes in North America. The longer the routes, the more points they earn. Additional points come to those who fulfill Destination Tickets – goal cards that connect distant cities; and to the player who builds the longest continuous route.”

8. Pandemic Legacy Season 1

Ages: Teens and adults
Group Size: 2-4 (I recommend just 2)
Complexity: Difficult
BUY HERE

If you play Pandemic and you love it as much as I do, make sure to also check out Pandemic Legacy. Legacy games are really cool and really different. Every time you play, the choices you make and their outcomes affect the next time you play. There are stickers you put on the board that help you remember what happened last time, there are mystery boxes the game tells you to open up at certain times revealing new game pieces and new rules. Sometimes you even tear up cards and you can never use them again! Pandemic Legacy is mind-blowing, and a must play in my book.

About: “The world is on the brink of disaster. In Pandemic Legacy, your disease-fighting team must keep four deadly diseases at bay for a whole year. Each month will bring new surprises, and your actions in each game will have repercussions on the next. Will you let cities fall to the diseases? Will your team be enough to keep the viruses at bay for a whole year? Craft your own unique Pandemic experience with Pandemic Legacy.”

9. Terraforming Mars

Ages: Teens and adults
Group Size: 1-5
Complexity: Difficult
BUY HERE

I want to preface by saying this game was hard to learn. We were intimidated by the rule book, so we ended up watching a 30-minute video explanation of the rules instead, which helped a lot. Once we knew the rules, the game was easy to get started. It is a lot like deck building games, but you also have a game board. It seems intimidating, but the cards you play tell you exactly what to do. If you are up for a challenge and like complex board games, I highly recommend this game. Once we learned it, it ended up being a lot of fun.

About: “In the 2400S, mankind begins to terraform the Planet Mars. Giant corporations, sponsored by the world government on earth, initiate huge projects to raise the temperature, the oxygen level and the ocean coverage until the environment is habitable. In Terraforming Mars you play one of those corporations and work together in the Terraforming process, but compete in doing the best work, with victory points awarded not only for your contribution to the Terraforming, but also for advancing human infrastructure throughout the solar systems and other commendable achievements.”

10. Power Grid Recharged Version

About: Teens and adults
Group Size: 2-6
Complexity: Difficult
BUY HERE

Power Grid Recharged has all the strategy and fun of the classic first edition, but adds some updates that improve the (already great) gameplay. This game is also a little hard to learn, but what I loved about it was that it didn’t involve any reading, but it does have a lot of math. I recommend having a calculator nearby to make it easier. What is so great about this game is that it constantly makes the board an equal playing field for everyone. If you are doing good and you are in first place, the game gets harder, if you are in last place, the game gets easier. It adds a new strategy of maybe not advancing in order to stay low on the score board and receive better prices. This game involves hard core strategy, which is what I love.

About: “What better way to earn money than with electric power?!! But how should you do it? However you decide to generate the energy, you’ll have to compete with your opponents not only for the most attractive power plants, but for the necessary resources and the sites to build your network of energy distribution. You’ll need to watch your opponents closely, carefully manage your money, and expand your network thoughtfully in order to generate income. The player that is able to build the largest network AND successfully power it will be the winner.”

And that is my list for the top 10 games I am playing right now in quarantine. Let me know what games you are playing, or if you have played any of the games on this list yet! I hope some of these games make time go by a little faster, and that you continue to stay inside and stay healthy!

March Madness Escape Room Tournamnet

March Madness Escape Room Tournament

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March Madness Escape Room Tournament

Play any game between 3/15-4/05/20 to enter to win great prizes for teams with the best escape time!

Does the NCAA tournament get you into a competitive spirit? GOOD! If you play a game at Cross Roads Escape Games anytime between March 15th– April 5th you will be competing for amazing prizes!

For the first time in Cross Roads history, we will be bringing in leaderboards for each of our 3 games. If you are one of the FINAL FOUR teams on the leader board by April 6th, you will win an amazing prize! With the final four teams getting prizes in each our games, that makes 12 total prizes you can win!

If you are the one who makes the booking, that automatically makes you the team captain and you will be the one who’s name goes on the leader board and will be the one contacted if your team makes it to the final four on April 6th!

Here are our categories and prizes:

THE HEX ROOM

  1. #1 Survivors: Most amount of time left on the clock with all 6 survivor medallions in hand
    • Prize: Play Live Nation, Fullerton: 10 gift certificates for $150 off a 15 station VIP Gaming Party Package! ($1500 value) 
  2. #2 Survivors: Second most amount of time left on the clock with all 6 survivor medallions in hand
  3. Best Time: Most amount of time left on the clock with or without survivor medallions
  4. Second Best Time: Second most amount of time left on the clock with or without survivor medallions

THE FUN HOUSE

  1. Best Time: Most amount of time left on the clock
    • Prize: VR Zone, Fullerton: ½ hour VR Session for 8 players  ($120 value)
  1. Second Best Time: Second most amount of time left on the clock
    • Prize: Play Live Nation, Fullerton: one hour free game passes for 10 people ($100 value) 
  1. Fun House KIDS Best Time: Most amount of time left on the clock in a KIDS game (majority of the group needs to be ages 12 or younger)
    • Prize: Play Live Nation, Fullerton: 5 gift certificates for $100 off a 7 station VIP Gaming Party Package ($500 value) 
  1. Fun House KIDS Second best time: Second most amount of time left on the clock in a KIDS game (majority of the group needs to be ages 12 or younger)
    • Prize: Sky Zone, Anaheim: 2 hour jump time and socks ($240 value)

THE PSYCH WARD

  1. Most Sane Points: Finishes the game with the highest number of points for the sane team
    • Prize: ArrowTag, Santa Ana- 1 Hour Private Arrow Tag Event for up to 16 ($300 value) 
  1. Most Insane Points: Finishes the game with the highest number of points for the insane team
    • Prize: Curtis Theatre, Brea: 10 tickets to any show in the 2020 Curtis Theatre Season ($400 value) 
  1. Second Most Sane Points: Finishes the game with the second highest number of points for the sane team
    • Prize: Chance Theater, Anaheim: 2 Free tickets and 8 50% off tickets to The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Diety
  1. Second Most Insane Points: Finishes the game with the second highest number of points for the insane team
    • Prize: The Bruery, Anaheim: Behind the scenes tour and 2 tasting flights ($60 value) 

All you have to do to enter is play a game anytime between March 15th-Apirl 5th, 2020! We will be posting our leaderboards every night to our Instagram and Facebook stories. Make sure to follow us to stay updated with your status! Winners will be announced and contacted on April 6th, 2020. The person who made the booking is the team captain and will be the one contacted if your team makes the final four!  All prizes will be either mailed or emailed.

Common Questions:

How do I enter?

Just play any of our 3 games anytime between Sunday, March 15th and Sunday, April 5th.  BOOK NOW! 

How do I check the leaderboards?

Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and check our stories! We will be posting updated leaderboards daily.

How do I claim my prize?

If your team is still on the leaderboard by April 6th, your team wins that category! We will reach out to the team captain, AKA the person who made the booking, and mail or email them the prize. It is their responsibility to split it amongst their team.

Do I pick my prize?

Each category has its own sponsored prize. You will win the prize of that category if your name is still listed on the leader board by April 6th.

Will I stay on the leaderboard?

Maybe! Your name will stay on the leaderboard until another team beats your time/score. If you were in the first place position, but someone beat your time/score, you will automatically move down to the second place position.

Is there a recommended team size?

Nope! You can come with any size team as long as it is between our minimum and maximum for that game. But here is a tip- larger teams mean more minds, so it might help to bring a large group!

If I have already played your games, can I still enter?

Of course! The Hex Room and The Psych Ward are designed to be re-playable games so you can definitely come back and play our March Madness Event.

How many hints can we get in the games?

For the 3-week March Madness event, Game Masters will only give a max of 3 hints per game! If you need more then 3 hints, don’t worry, we will still help you along, but you will not qualify for the leaderboards.  

haunt-x-cover

The Box Mini-Game at HauntX

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On Feb. 22nd and 23rd, we will be at HauntX with our exclusive mini-game, THE BOX. THE BOX is a 10 minute game for 3-5 players. It is free to play with the purchase of an admission ticket to HauntX, but spots are limited to first come, first served. Make sure to get to the convention early to get a time slot to play!

Here are more details:

When is it?

Saturday, Feb. 22nd from 10am-6pm and Sunday, Feb. 23rd from 10am-5pm

Where is it?

HauntX Expo, 1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768

How much are tickets?

Tickets range from $20-$40. To save 10% on your admission ticket, use the promo code CROSSROADS10%OFF. The mini-game is free to play once inside the expo. First come, first served. You can get tickets here: https://hauntx.com/

What is The Box mini-game?

It’s 1972 and the doctors have ordered your Hydrotherapy treatment. One player will be locked inside THE BOX. The doctors are hoping this treatment helps calm you and heat the crazy right out! The temperature starts to rise to a deadly level; luckily you have some friends on the outside that can help you get out before you are cooked alive! This is a 10 minute game for 3-5 players.

What is HauntX?

HauntX is a Haunted House and Halloween DIY style Trade Show Expo that focuses on Haunt Education, Haunt creation and the Halloween Community. Our target audience consists of builders, crafters, creators, designers, painters, illusionists, fabricators and enthusiasts.

What is there to do at HauntX?

On top of our mini-game experience, on the show floor there will be vendors with artwork and other items for sale. There will also be classes, presentations and a DIY Make and Take project zone.

On Saturday night, come to the Asylum Costume party for drinks, dancing, and a costume contest!

one night only

Singles Night: Feb. 14th

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Have you ever wanted to play one of our games, but didn’t have a large enough group to meet the minimum? Join us on Friday, Feb. 14th, 2020 for Singles night! One night only, all of our games will be public bookings! Meet some new friends and enjoy a night of escaping. 

What is Singles Night?

A one night only event where all our games are public bookings. Normally, our bookings are private, meaning it will only be you and your friends in the game and a minimum number of tickets must be purchased per group. But for Singles Night, all our games are public bookings, meaning you can purchase one or more ticket and join a group with other players you may not know. 

When is Singles Night?

Friday, February 14th, 2020 from 4pm-10pm. Booking must be made in advance on our website. 

Do you have to be single to come?

Nope! We are just calling it singles night because it is the first time we are allowing single person admission tickets, instead of having to reserve the whole game. It’s a great night to come and meet new people and find your newest escape team!

What game should I play?

The Hex Room and The Psych Ward require a minimum of 5 players. And The Fun House requires a minimum of 4 players. We know how challenging it can be to get all your friends together on the same night, so this is a great chance to play any of 3 great games! And with new updates coming to The Hex Room this Summer, if you haven’t played or escaped, this is a great chance to play before it changes! 

What if not enough people book for the time slot I want?

Please be aware that our minimum player requirement of 5 is still needed to play The Hex Room and The Psych Ward. If the minimum requirement is not met we will give you a call an hour before your game and issue a full refund. We can not guarantee enough players will be present for the game you book.

Will you be holding singles night again?

Depending on how well this Singles Night goes, we may have another public booking night in the future. We recommending booking for this upcoming singles night, just incase! 

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Black Friday Sale!

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This is our BIGGEST BLACK FRIDAY SALE EVER! We love Black Friday sales and this year we have the perfect Escape Room Gift ideas! 

1. 20% off Gift Cards

Now until 12/02/19 use the code BLACKFRIDAY19 to save 20% off all gift card purchases! Include a maze puzzle case for $5. This code can only be used on new transactions and cannot be combined with any other offers. This code is not valid for the Escape Room Puzzle Gift Box. BUY HERE!

2. Escape Room Puzzle Gift Box- $99

The retail value is $120, but get yours for only $99! This puzzle gift box is a perfect gift to or from any escape room enthusiast! It includes: A gift card pre-loaded with one ticket ($37) in a maze puzzle case. 1 Hex Room T-shirt (Men’s or Woman’s sizes S-XXL). 1 Cross Roads pen. 1 gold cryptex with an exclusive puzzle and bonus prize. Gift wrapped in a gold box and red or blue bow.  Puzzle Gift Box is already sold at a discounted value, Black Friday codes are not valid for this item. Only 20 available! Get yours while supplies last! BUY HERE!

Check out our unboxing vide to see what’s in the box! 

Wishing everyone a fun and safe holiday from Cross Roads Escape Games! 

Seance Playbill

The Séance Playbill

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The Séance
Written and Directed by Madison Rhoades 

Cast:

Ruby: Geovanna Flores
Ruby: Amy Melendrez
Ruby/ Puppeteer: Tara Virgil
Puppeteer: Brittani Prenger
Puppeteer: Stepy Kamei
Puppeteer: Desiree Nguyen
Ruth’s Voice and Likeness: Jessie Wise

Crew:

Director: Madison Rhoades
Asst. Director: Luke Rhoades
Technical Director: Luke Rhoades
Scenic Designer: Madison Rhoades
Lighting Designer: Ian Momii
Sound Designer: Dan Waldkirch
Lighting and Sound Technician: Ian Momii
Costume Designer: Lauren Orgill
Puppet Designers and Fabricators: Madison Rhoades, Zach Dahm, and Nathan Manahan
Special Effects: Christian Mutter
Prop Master: Lauren Orgill
Prop Illustrations: Alexa Harzan

Special thanks to Liz Croupe, Eva Recinos, Jason Sakal, Geoff Durham, Theresa Rhoades, and Bonnie Rhoades

Cast Biographies:

Geovanna Flores (RUBY): Geovanna Flores is a Los Angeles native and recent USC Thornton School of Music graduate.  A classically trained opera singer, Flores enjoys performing opera as well as musical theatre, theatrical and commercial acting, and performance poetry.  During her time at USC, Geovanna was seen with the USC Opera as a Nina in Ainadamar, played Lucy T. Slut in Avenue Q with the Musical Theatre Repatory of USC, and Consuelo in West Side Story in the historic first Kaufman School of Dance, Thornton School of Music and USC School of Dramatic Arts collaborative production.  Flores is a proud Latina, speaks fluent Spanish and incorporates her passion for social justice and Latinx culture into her poetry.  When not performing, auditioning, or in rehearsal, Flores teaches voice and piano in West Los Angeles.  www.GeovannaFlores.com

 

Amy Melendrez (RUBY):  Born and raised in L.A., Amy is a recent graduate of the University of Southern California and is excited to be jumping into the world of The Séance! Amy was most recently seen in Accidental Joy, a new musical workshop. While pursuing her B.A. in Theatre, she also attended the British American Drama Academy. She has appeared in various collegiate productions including Heathers, Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play, Time and the Conways, The Penelopiad, and the staged reading of Hipster Sweatshop.

 

Tara Virgil (RUBY/ PUPPETEER): Tara Virgil is extremely excited to be a part of Cross Roads Escape Games newest addition: The Séance. She has had 7 years of theater acting experience and is thrilled to be trying something new. She has been in numerous productions over the years, including The Little Shop of Horrors as Mrs. Mushnik and Aladdin as Genie. Tara hopes to pursue acting as a future endeavor and will hopefully be attending CSULB in the spring for a degree in theater.

 

Brittani Prenger (PUPPETEER): Brittani has been performing all of her life. She is currently at Knott’s Berry Farm as a train robber and she just wrapped up her first year at Ghost Town Alive as the town’s medium, Marley Dixon. Her Séance’s were a whole lot different than this one. Soon she will be performing with the Mixed Company Carolers all Christmas season. For the last 6 Halloween’s she has been scaring at Knott’s Scary Farm and Dark Harbor on the Queen Mary. Brittani is a big musical theatre girl, some of her more recent roles were Inga (Young Frankenstein), Brenda Strong (Catch Me if You Can), Hodel (Fiddler on the Roof), Kate Monster (Avenue Q), Baker’s Wife (Into the Woods) and Gingy/Sugarplum Fairy (Shrek). She is excited to be joining The Séance cast this season. 

 

Desiree Nguyen (PUPPETEER): Desiree Nguyen is feeling spooktacular about making her debut at Cross Roads Escape Games! She graduated from UCI in 2017 and literally majored in Drama. While she considers herself primarily a director these days, it’s always a thrill to return to acting. Desiree has directed with OC New Voices Playwrights and UCI. She’s also stage managed and crewed at several Orange County community theatres including Chance Theater, Stagedoor Repertory, Newport Theatre Arts Center, and New Swan Shakespeare Festival. Desiree builds puppets, enjoys clowning, and loves supporting diverse talent and new works onstage. As an actor, she often plays dead people. It’s probably because she’s also a little dead inside. Desiree would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her and putting up with her morbid sense of humor. She tones it down on social media though. Follow her work on Instagram: @theatricaldez

 

Stepy Kamei (PUPPETEER): Stepy Kamei has been working in immersive theater and haunts since 2015. Her recent immersive theater credits include award-nominated Internal and the Captivated series, while haunt credits include Horror Made Here and Dark Harbor. She can currently be seen performing in The Séance as well as Dark Harbor for the 2019 haunt season, and is collaborating as a writer on an upcoming immersive theater production.

 

Crew Biographies:


Madison Rhoades (Writer, Director, Producer, Scenic Designer, Puppet Designer): Madison Rhoades is the Co-Owner and Creative Director of Cross Roads Escape Games. She graduated with a B.A. in Fine Arts and Theatre from USC in 2013. She was the scenic designer for many small theatres around Los Angeles. She performed in the interactive theatre show, Delusion, for it’s first 3 years and was the Lead Scenic Painter for The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor from 2013-2015. Madison always dreamed of owning her own theatre one day. After falling in love with escape rooms, she opened Cross Roads in 2016 with her husband and has been designing games and interactive experiences ever since. 

 

Luke Rhoades (Asst. Director, Producer, Technical Director): Luke Rhoades is the Co-Owner and Technical Director of Cross Roads Escape Games. He graduated Vanguard University in 2014 with a B.A. in Theatre. Upon graduating Luke was the Master Carpenter at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Hollywood. He opened his own Escape Room business with his wife in 2016.

 

Ian Momii (Lighting Designer):  Ian’s background ranges all over the live event spectrum, having his hands in anything from theatre and concerts to corporate events and award shows. Locally in Los Angeles he is likely best known for his work as Lighting Designer and Technical Director for Delusion from 2014- spring 2019. Ian has also been part of Ceaseless Fun with their production of They Who Saw The Deep, and most recently Scout Expedition Co’s The Nest. Ian is excited to be returning to Cross Roads having helped Madison and Luke with The Hex Room and The Fun House.

 

Dan Waldkirch (Sound Designer): Dan Waldkirch is a musician, artist, and chess player from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. His music has been heard on over 30 primetime television shows and major motion pictures, including The Mindy Project, Jane the Virgin, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He designed the music and sound for all three of Cross Roads’ escape rooms, and his debut musical Save Me a Spot enjoyed a sold out Fringe run and nomination for A Little New Music’s Best Musical Theatre Songwriting award. He’s thrilled to be back making ominous drones for The Séance.

 

Lauren Orgill (Costume Designer/ Prop Master): Lauren is proud to be working at Cross Roads Escape Games again after assisting with costumes and props for The Hex Room, The Fun House, and The Psych Ward. You may also recognize her as Nurse Ratched promoting The Asylum mini-game. Lauren has a degree in Interior Design, and she has been sewing both interior projects and custom costumes for over 30 years. 

 

Christian Mutter (Special Effects): Christian Mutter is currently a Mechanical Engineering student at CSU Fullerton and enjoys tinkering with robotics and programming. He is excited to have the opportunity to apply those interests in The Séance. 

 

Directors Note:

The Séance has been something I have always wanted to do since we very first opened. It was actually planned to be one of our very first experiences. Back in 2015/2016 immersive theater was still very new, and even escape rooms were only know by a small handful of people, so we decided to wait.

We opened The Hex Room first, which was a revolutionary game for its time. It changed the normal escape room game mechanics, had completely immersive scenery and props, lighting effects, and sound.  Our next game, The Fun House, has a more traditional escape room game design to help people get acquainted with this new form of entertainment, but kept the high-quality set and special effects. It also introduced more character interaction between the audience and their game master, something that we felt was missing from escape rooms.

After having those games open a few years and seeing the rising trend in interactive entertainment, we created something new again, changing the game mechanics once more. In late 2018 we opened The Psych Ward, an escape room with a twist. This new game combined social deducting strategy, along with immersive theatre, and escape room elements. It is something completely new and thankfully it was met with high praise.

The Psych Ward acts as a bridge between our escape rooms and this new interactive theatre experience. The Séance is not an escape room, but it still gives you the same excitement that escape rooms do so well. I have always been fascinated by the afterlife and have experienced unexplainable things from working on The Queen Mary for 3 years.

While writing this show, I wanted to create something truly terrifying, but sticking with our theatre background and trend of creating something completely new. This show will both satisfy your haunt craving while also supplying you with a beautiful story full of suspense and terrifying imagery.

Our goal with this show is that we are able to bring it back year after year in new historic venues around the world. I hope you enjoy the show!

-Madison Rhodes

The Psych Ward at Cross Roads Escape Games

New twist to The Psych Ward

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In the beginning of August, Dr. Griffin has made some groundbreaking new changes to his experiments within the testing facilities of the Psych Ward. In a recent interview about his findings, Dr. Griffin stated that the experiment has been a huge success so far but that more research is still needed. He says that the changes to the experiment are designed to illicit more fruitful interactions between both sane and insane patients.

Dr. Griffin states that after each completed task, a scanner will come on and allow patients to scan for points. However, at least two patients are required to scan for each completed task. This means that after each task, patients will have to choose at least one other patient to scan with them; making trust an even more valuable commodity inside the experiment.

In addition, after each patient has scanned their wristband, they will be prompted to anonymously select which team to send their points to; One button will give points to the sane team and the other will allow the insane team to steal the points for the task.

This is helpful for those patients that are trying to mask their identity from other patients. If a patient is under suspicion of being insane, they may choose to give the sane team their point in an attempt to deceive the sane patient.

This allows the insane team to stay under cover, but at a sacrifice of helping the sane team.

This opens the experiment to even more strategies, and not only for the insane patients. Doctor Griffin is curious to see the different ways his patients will try to help their team win.

This means that patients will have to pay very close attention to the behaviors of other patients throughout the entirety of the experiment, and that the question of who to trust has become an even more troublesome inquiry to answer than ever before.

Dr. Griffin would like to remind everyone that his experiment is for the patients’ own good and is critical to his ongoing research. The experiment is designed to study how patients interact with one another and that there are no other experiments going on inside the testing facility. He promises.

Well, you heard it here first folks. The psych ward has interesting new changes that allow for even greater acts of trust and betrayal between patients. And if Dr. Griffin says it is for their own good, then you know it has to be true. He is a Doctor after all.

From Cross Roads Behavioral Science Journal, September 1976

Jason Lee Sakal- Amateur Journalist, Day Manager, Game Master

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We Will Be At Midsummer Scream!

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Join us at Midsummer Scream on Aug. 3rdand 4that the Long Beach Convention Center! We have 2 new experiences for you this year! Find us at booth 518 to play our new mini-game, THE BOX, and experience THE SÉANCE mini experience!

THE BOX is a 10 minute game for 3-5 players. One player will go inside The Box while an orderly locks them up to prepare for their 10 minute hydrotherapy treatment. The doctors are hoping this treatment helps calm you and heat the crazy right out. It has not been successful on the last patients, so this time they are upping the temperature. The temperature starts to rise to a deadly level; luckily you have some friends on the outside that are there to help you get out before you are cooked alive! This game is set in the same world as our newest hour-long game, The Psych Ward. If you haven’t played that yet, make sure you do soon!

THE SÉANCE is a 10 minute interactive theatre experience for up to 7 guests. Come visit Madam Ruth and get your future told by the spirits. Ask them questions and learn how to communicate with those on the other side. This event is a sneak peek into our next full length immersive theatre experience, THE SÉANCE, coming this October!

Tickets: Both experiences are FREE with the purchase of a ticket to Midsummer Scream. Use the promo code ESCAPE for 20% off your general admission tickets.

Sign ups: Guarantee yourself a chance to play by getting to the convention early and signing up for a time slot! Space is limited and is first come first served.

About Midsummer Scream: The largest Halloween and horror fan convention in the world, returns to Southern California August 3-4 for a monstrous weekend of thrills, chills, and haunting fun. For the first time, Midsummer Scream will occupy the entire Long Beach Convention Center, doubling the show’s size for 2019. This year promises to be the best yet, with an eerie and cool dark tiki theme, the return of industry giants like Universal, Knott’s Scary Farm, Dark Harbor, and Fright Fest, plus plenty of vendors, seminars, shows, and scares!

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