Philadelphia audiences can celebrate the 50th anniversary of the world’s most famous role-playing game when DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Twenty-Sided Tavern arrives at Ensemble Arts Philly’s Miller Theater from October 10th to 12th.
Fresh from its Off-Broadway run, the interactive production is part theater, part game, and no two performances are the same. Audiences use their phones to solve puzzles, explore hidden secrets, and conquer enemies in an experience that’s designed for all ages. Whether you are curious about D&D, a die-hard fan, or just love adventure, this is a not-to-be-missed event.
Actor Conner Marx takes on the role of the Dungeon Master. His career spans television (New Amsterdam, NCIS, Criminal Minds, Leverage), film (Kimi, Lucky Them), and the gaming world with voice roles in Resident Evil: Village and Marvel’s Midnight Suns. Now, as a longtime tabletop enthusiast and LARPer, Marx helps guide both the cast and the audience through each unpredictable, dice-fueled performance of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Twenty-Sided Tavern.
Marx spoke with Metro, discussing his first encounter with D&D, what gives the game its lasting power, and why he’s excited to bring the Tavern to Philadelphia.
When did you first start playing DUNGEONS & DRAGONS and how did you get introduced to the Tavern?
I don’t know if I was missing the requisite older sibling or what, but I didn’t really know about DUNGEONS & DRAGONS when I was a kid. I had certainly heard of it, but wasn’t sure how to start playing. It would have been right up my alley – I was LARPing, playing board games constantly, hosting LAN parties on the weekends – but D&D stayed just out of reach.
Finally, in 2012, I went to my first Gen Con, the world’s largest gaming convention. I was introduced to the game and the community and I was hooked. When I got back to LA after the con, I found a small comics and miniatures shop, Aero Hobbies, that held a Wednesday night Adventurers League and I went every week. Eventually, I found a group of friends to start a regular game (or several) and it’s been nonstop since.
I was introduced to the Tavern almost by accident. A friend sent me an article with the headline “A Dungeons & Dragons Live Theater Experience Comes to NYC.” They knew it was a passion of mine and wanted to put in on my radar as a fun show to see together. At the very bottom of the article, there was the line, “if you’re interested in auditioning to be a part of the Tavern, video submissions will be accepted until 5 p.m. on February 22nd. I read it at 2 p.m. on February 22nd and thought, ‘Eh, screw it, why not?’ I threw a tape together, sent it in a few minutes before the deadline and the rest is history.
Can you tell us about your role in the Tavern and what audiences can expect in a typical show?
I play the Dungeon Master at the Tavern. The name suggests a certain prestige, but I think of the role as one of support. I’m there to support the players (both on stage and in the audience) as they tell a story together. They make character choices, narrative offers, big decisions, and it’s my job to help weave them together in a satisfying whole. To provide enough pushback and consequence to create real stakes and dramatic tension. I’m also there to give them toys like conflict, opposition, and a couple juicy bad guys to beat up, convert, or seduce.
As far as what the audience can expect, the beautiful thing about this show is its unpredictability. We know we’ll start in a tavern called the Curious Hedgehog, we know we’ll meet a wizard who’ll send us on a quest to save the world, and we know we’ll end up underground in the City of the Dead. How we get from A to Z and what happens in between changes every single performance. We know we’re gonna roll dice, we know we’re gonna fight monsters (we don’t know if we or the monsters will win), and we know we’re gonna crack ourselves up the whole time.
How does the audience control the show and how do you prepare for such an improvised performance?
We have this incredible piece of software called Gamiotics. As soon as you enter the theater, you scan a QR code and then you’re able to use your phone to choose characters, vote on story decisions, complete challenges to keep our heroes alive (or kill them if you’re feeling particularly chaotic evil that day). Our fate is truly in the audience’s hands.
As to how we prepare for that level of unknowns, it’s very similar to actually playing D&D around a table with your friends. You want to be prepared enough that you’re relaxed and ready for whatever may come at you, and at the same time, loose and flexible enough to abandon your plans at any moment and chase the fun wherever the dice or your players’ imaginations take you. Basically, you have to be comfortable being utterly out of control and trusting that there’s a damn good time within the chaos as long as you’re willing to put your hands up and ride the ride.
Since this year marks the 50th Anniversary of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, why do you think the game has stayed so beloved across generations?
D&D checks so many different boxes for me and I think that’s a huge reason for its longevity. It gives you a place to take all that imaginative creativity we had as children, that we still have as adults (just without as many socially accepted outlets), and funnel it through just enough structure to make it collaborative, meaningful, and fun.
It allows you to explore all your wildest, escapist, wish-fulfillment fantasies in a safe environment that rewards you for bravery, wit, and wackiness. And in a world that asks me to spend more and more of each day on my phone, it’s an incredible opportunity to gather around a table with friends and spend a couple hours having fun together.
Why do you hope Philadelphian’s come to The Twenty-Sided Tavern?
I hope Philadelphians come to the Tavern for the same reason I hope everyone comes to the Tavern: you make our show better. Audiences in each city of this tour have delighted us with just how hard they come to play. I have no doubt that Philly’s gonna show up with just as much spunk or more.
This show builds community, it gathers people together and binds them to a shared experience, a unique story we all tell together that will never be told again. And there’s nothing like it. It’s such a joy to be able to share that across the country. But mostly, and most selfishly, I hope Philadelphians come so they can tell me exactly how to order the best Philly cheesesteak and from where. If anyone has the secrets, I’m at @conner_marx and would love to hear your recommendations!
For more information or for tickets, visit ensembleartsphilly.org.
