The McKittrick Hotel New Years Eve Party sent Sleep No More out with a bang.
The famed immersive experience, Sleep No More, announced their final extension for March 31, 2024. To celebrate Sleep No More’s departure, they and The McKittrick hosted a wild New Years Eve party, under the name “The Last New Years Eve”. Everyone dressed glamorously, ready to toast to 2024 and celebrate the history of Sleep No More.
The event directors, Conor Doyle and Oliver Sayer and dance artist and choreographer, Marla Phelan, based each level of the space on previous events they directed. This was clear in their forest level, which included a bar cover in Midsummer Night’s Dream quotes, as well as a room covered in bathtubs for photo ops. The performances in these spaces, namely some of the interpretive dancing and low-key jazz bands, set off the entrancing vibe.
I had the opportunity to check out Oz’s Boudoir, an exclusive lounge with a bedchamber theme. The theming was perfectly staged, with chic/classic library layouts for photos ops, and an actual king-sized bed that was comfortable for taking a break after dancing. Plus, the location was perfect as it was easy to chat with people. The drinks were fine, the whisky especially was good, but I would’ve preferred a more varied cocktail variety at the bar.
The highlights of the night were the music performers and dancers. The night featured fantastic, fun, and sultry burlesque performances from the Hypnotique Heroines using music from David Bowie and reworked jazz tracks. The music performances were fantastic, afro-funk indie band like Gentleman Brawlers were a particularly lively standout. In the ballroom, Madison Rose absolutely lit up the stage with her remixing of ABBA tracks with the Barbie soundtrack. The Last New Years Eve was the perfect night to cap off 2023.