Transforming audiences from spectators into storytellers

Immersive, playable theatre experiences invite audiences to shape the narrative. By blending interactive storytelling, game-inspired mechanics, and embodied participation, I create experiences that linger in the heart and mind long after they end.

About

I’m Amber, an immersive experience designer specializing in playable and immersive theatre.
I craft audience-centered, experience-focused journeys designed to spark emotional shifts, inspire new mindsets, and motivate meaningful reflection. Whether creating theatrical-style escape rooms, tabletop RPGs, or live-action role-playing experiences, my goal is to build transformational adventures that linger long after they end.In addition to my creative work, I’m a Clinical Assistant Professor of Design in the Department of Theatre and affiliated faculty with the Game Studies & Design program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I teach courses on escape room design, tabletop role-playing game design, immersive storytelling, and experience design - helping students master audience-centered principles to shape their own memorable experiences.
Collaboration is at the heart of everything I do. I partner with creative teams to develop interactive and playable elements within existing or in-progress productions. Whether consulting on playable theatre layers or designing full-fledged immersive experiences, I help creators build emotionally resonant worlds where participants feel agency, connection, and personal meaning.When I’m not designing or teaching, I’m immersing myself in new projects and ideas, constantly seeking inspiration and learning to stay on the cutting edge of experience design.I hold a BFA in Design and Production from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and an MFA in Experience Design from Miami University,

Design Philosophy

Where interaction becomes transformation.

I specialize in designing immersive, playable theatre experiences where audiences shape the narrative and become active participants in the story. Whether creating theatrical puzzle rooms, tabletop role-playing games, or immersive whodunits, my goal is always to craft emotionally resonant, flow-state-inducing experiences that linger long after they end.Experience Design: The Foundation of Playable Theatre
At the heart of my work is experience design (XD)—the practice of intentionally shaping human interactions to evoke specific emotional, psychological, and behavioral responses. More than just usability or satisfaction, XD focuses on emotion, memory, meaning, and connection, transforming audiences from passive observers into active co-creators.* Sometimes, it’s about designing awe and wonder.* Other times, it’s about creating comfort, care, or catharsis.* Always, it’s about crafting moments that matter.

Designing for Impact
My work is guided by evidence-based experience design methods that consider:* Flow-state immersion: Creating challenges and participation models that keep audiences engaged and emotionally invested.* Emotional and behavioral outcomes: Designing with intention to elicit specific responses, from awe and joy to tension and empathy.* Audience-centered design: Prioritizing the participant’s journey - how they feel, what they remember, and what they take away.To support this work, I’ve developed frameworks and tools to support the design and evaluation audience participation in interactive and immersive performance.

Design Portfolio

My work spans multiple areas of experience design, focusing on creating immersive, interactive, and transformational experiences. Whether mentoring students, designing games and interactive theatre, or developing experience design solutions, I center audience/player experience and collaboration at every stage.Explore the portfolios below to see examples of my and my students' work.

Game and Interactive theatre designs

Original games, playable theatre, and interactive performance work that blend storytelling, agency, and audience participation.

I Wish: A Theatrical Puzzle Room

A 90-minute interactive theatre/escape room experience inspired by Sondheim's Into the Woods that ran in April and May 2024 to sold-out audiences. This creative project was produced by Illinois Theatre in partnership with CU Adventures in Time and Space and UIUC's Fab Lab. It is devised, designed, and performed by UIUC BFA and MFA students, staff, and faculty.My role: Experience Designer and Game Director

"I Wish" is an innovative 90-minute interactive theatre and escape room experience inspired by Sondheim’s Into the Woods. Produced in collaboration with CU Adventures in Time and Space, Illinois Theatre, and UIUC's Fab Lab, this production brought together BFA and MFA students, faculty, and staff from across the campus and community. The primary objective was to create a collaborative, immersive experience that invited the audience to step into a world of fables, where they could interact with characters from beloved stories, solve puzzles, and work together to navigate a web of consequences, all within a time-sensitive quest.Development Process
The development of I Wish involved a unique integration of traditional theatre design with the game design process. From the initial stages, we explored how to blend these two approaches, starting with paper prototypes during the design phase. This evolved into higher-fidelity playtesting during rehearsals, and ultimately, full-scale playtesting within the performance space. While the process was iterative and faced its challenges, it provided valuable insights into creating interactive and immersive experiences. The collaboration across departments and the lessons learned from testing have paved the way for future works in this hybrid space.Storyline
Inspired by Into the Woods, I Wish casts the audience as storytellers, partnering with a Narrator to embark on a quest to retrieve magical beans from a whimsical fairy tale forest. Along the way, they encounter iconic characters such as Rapunzel's Prince, Cinderella, Milky White the Cow, a Giant, and a Witch. Each character offers their own challenges and alliances, and the audience must collaborate with them to achieve their ultimate goal, navigating twists and turns in this enchanted world of fables.Performances
I Wish ran from April 5-14, 2024, at CU Adventures in Time and Space, Urbana. The production sold out within days and was met with enthusiastic responses from participants, with many praising the innovative combination of immersive theatre and escape room elements.Some of the feedback included the following:“OH MY GOSH THAT WAS SO GOOD. Please tell everyone involved that they're amazing!”“I loved that. That was hands down the most wonderful thing I've done this year, and quite possibly since I moved here!”“I’d like to add my own celebratory congratulations to this entire team! The work was stunningly connected and such a fun, interactive way to bring what we do to new experiences. So much to be proud of and to hold as a model for what artists can do in this world!”“This is a very interesting experience. It is definitely a mixture of an escape room and a play, which is pretty fun. The set design is fantastic, the actors were great, and the story was a fun play on the musical Into the Woods.”“What a magical experience! I drove 4 hours round trip to play this limited-time room and have no regrets! The set was beautiful and immersive, and the puzzles all fit in with the story/theme with lots of tech and no padlocks whatsoever.”“The room has similar vibes to the wonderful Storykeeper at Locurio, but with a different story, more theatrics, and actor interaction the entire time.”

The Heist: A Theatrical Escape Room

A 60-minute, role-playing theatrical escape room centered on low-touch and human-interaction-based puzzles for safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Produced by Illinois Theatre.My role: Experience Designer and Game Director

Produced as part of the UIUC Theatre Department’s 2020-2021 season, this project pushed the boundaries of blending theatre, escape rooms, and live-action role-playing (LARP). I designed the experience to focus on human interaction and communication as key obstacles and challenges, in addition to traditional “lock and key” puzzles. The four actors played dual roles—either as allies offering hints or as obstacles standing in the way of the players' goals.In response to the challenges posed by COVID-19, I eliminated the typical escape room mechanic of discovering keys and physical hints. Drawing inspiration from LARP, each player was assigned a unique character, complete with a set of tools that reflected their character’s skills and traits. To succeed, players had to determine when and how to use their tools, often requiring collaboration—combining knowledge and resources with other players to solve puzzles.Development Process
The development process was a fusion of traditional theatre design and game development. While the structure followed a theatrical design process, we integrated both virtual and in-person playtesting to refine the experience. Dress rehearsals served as playtesting sessions, followed by debriefs and time for adjustments based on feedback.Storyline
A team of expert thieves is hired by a mysterious benefactor to steal a valuable item from a secret storage facility. Initially, it seems like a simple snatch-and-grab—no challenge for these skilled professionals. But as the mission unfolds, they soon realize their new "partners" may not be what they seem.Performances
April 8-18, 2021 at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, UIUC

Exposome Project

Client: OSF Healthcare
My role: Lead Experience DesignerOSF Healthcare partnered with the Siebel Center for Design to explore gamified approaches for educating young adults about exposomes and empowering them to make healthier choices. As the lead experience designer, I developed three distinct prototypes that combined interactive learning with actionable insights. The project is currently on hold.

The 48: A Playwriting Festival Extravaganza

To create The 48, students, faculty, staff, and alumni collaborated from concept to performance of pieces of theatre over the course of two days. Produced by Illinois Theatre.My role: Artistic Director and Game Designer, developing gamified elements for participants of the playwriting process.

Posted!

A collaborative board game designed as part of the CUDO Plays 22-23 Board Game Competition. Awarded "Runner Up" in three categories: aesthetics, accessibility, and replay value.My role: Game Designer

Murder on Klein Island

A Zoom-based, role-playing
mystery game developed for 25 players to encourage socialization
and collaboration.My role: Game Designer

Thank you, Five!

A role-playing board game developed to teach stage management concepts for opera while building leadership and collaboration skills.My role: Game Designer

Crime & Coffee

A whodunit game that takes place inside of a functional crime-themed coffee house.My role: Experience Designer
& Game Designer

Student mentorship &
project supervision

Escape rooms designed by students in THEA 402: "Designing Immersive Adventures - Escape Rooms" under my mentorship, showcasing their creativity and problem-solving as part of my escape room design course.

Lab 217 - Molecules Unlocked - 2023

A 40-minute puzzle room experience developed by students in THEA 591: "Designing Immersive Adventures" for UIUC's Molecule Maker Lab Institute. This escape room is currently on the touring the country - it's being played by educators, students, and scientists at chemistry-focused conferences.Soon, it will be permanently installed at UIUC's Siebel Center for Computer Science.

Night(mare) at the Museum - 2022

A 3-act, narrative puzzle room experience developed for families to engage with the exhibits within the Museum of the Grand Prairie in Mahomet, IL.

The Haunting of Krannert Manor - 2021

A 45-minute puzzle room/immersive theatre experience for the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

Murder at Space School - 2020

A Zoom-based puzzle room experience developed for University High School's library program.

Ghoul of the Operetta - 2019-2020

A 20-minute theatre-themed escape room developed for high school outreach by Theatre BFA students and Informatics students. Presented both at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and the Illinois High School
Theatre Festival

Experience Design & Research

What is Experience Design (XD)?"Experience is a person’s perception of an interaction. The interaction could be internal or external, with the environment or with other people, and solo or shared. Experiences happen all of the time and often with very little intention. Experience Design is more than designing for usability and satisfaction."
— Shannon E. Thomas, The Practical Guide to Experience DesignExperience Design (XD) is the intentional creation of moments that evoke emotion, build connection, and leave a lasting impression. It goes beyond usability; it’s about designing for motivation, memory, and meaning. Whether the goal is to spark awe and wonder or offer comfort and care, XD uses psychology, interaction models, and creative design to shape how people feel and engage

How Experience Design Enhances Playable and Immersive TheatreIn playable and immersive theatre, experience design shapes how audiences engage with the story. By integrating game-inspired mechanics, embodied participation, and interactive storytelling, XD transforms audiences from passive spectators into active storytellers.I use evidence-based experience design methods to craft interactions that are:* Meaningful: Encouraging emotional connection and personal reflection.* Immersive: Drawing participants into the world with sensory-rich, believable environments.* Memorable: Leaving a lasting impact through agency and transformational experiences.

My Experience Design Research & PracticeMy research focuses on audience-centered design models for playable and immersive theatre. I developed an Audience Interaction Taxonomy for Playable Theatre, which serves as a foundation for designing and evaluating interactive performance.By using evidence-based methods when crafting audience interactions, I strive to:* Deepen emotional impact and understanding of the story through intentional interaction design.* Equip theatre artists with tools to create transformative immersive audience experiences.* Expand the language and methodology for designing playable performance.

Speaking, Workshops & Consulting

I regularly present and facilitate workshops at conferences, universities, and professional gatherings, sharing insights from my work at the intersection of immersive theatre, game design, and human-centered experience design. My presentations explore how thoughtful interaction design can support both creative expression and meaningful audience experiences.

In addition to presentations, I work with theatre companies, artists, educators, and creative organizations who are interested in building immersive and interactive work that is audience-centered, transformational, and thoughtfully designed.

Presentation Topics

Designing for Cognitive Engagement in Immersive Experiences
How mitigating cognitive load can support deeper immersion, richer audience participation, and transformational experiences in theatre, XR, education, and beyond.Human-Centered Design for Creative Industries
Applying audience-centered design frameworks to the arts, helping artists and companies create interactive work that honors both creative vision and audience experience.Escape Room Design as Pedagogy
A collaborative, interdisciplinary model for teaching escape room design, where students design for real-world clients while developing creative, technical, and audience-centered skills.Playable Theatre & Interactive Performance
Designing agency-driven, interactive, and participatory theatre experiences that invite audiences into the world of the story.

Available Formats

- Conference Presentations & Panels
- Workshops (Academic, Professional, or Industry)
- Guest Lectures & Class Visits
- Professional Development for Educators & Teaching Artists
- Consulting for Creative Teams & Theatre Companies

Interested in Working Together?

If you're interested in booking a presentation, workshop, or consulting session, feel free to contact me. I’m always excited to collaborate with artists, educators, and organizations exploring immersive, interactive, and transformational experiences.

selected Past Presentations

IMMERSE Symposium (2025) - "Reducing Cognitive Overload: A New Framework for Interaction in Immersive Playable Theatre” (Poster Presentation)XR for Learning and Instruction - UIUC's IMMERSE x College of Education Symposium (2025) - "Structuring Interaction to Support Engagement and Understanding"Playful by Design Symposium (2024) - "Developing Human-Centered Game Design Challenges for the Classroom"IMMERSE Symposium (2024) - "Interdisciplinary Certificate in Immersive Experience Design: A Collaboration Between Siebel Center for Design and Immerse” (Poster Presentation)Reimagining the Classroom Symposium (2024) - "Lab 217: Student-Designed Escape Room Exhibit and Tours"UIUC Game Studies & Design Student Showcase (2024) - PanelistUIUC Global Leaders Program's Social Innovation Forum (2024) - PanelistUIUC College of Education Graduate Student Conference (2024) - Faculty PanelistIllinois High School Theatre Festival (2024) - "Playable Theatre: Designing Immersive Adventures"Playful by Design Symposium (2023) - "I Wish: Student Growth Through Collaboration and Interdisciplinarity"UIUC Web Con (2023) - Keynote – "Creating Community through the Power of Play"Illinois High School Theatre Festival (2023) - "Playable Theatre: Designing Immersive Adventures" & "Stage Managers as Designers"Playful by Design Symposium (2020) - "Games & Illinois Theatre"Illinois High School Theatre Festival (2019) - "Technology for Stage Management"

Teaching at UIUC

As Clinical Assistant Professor of Design in the Department of Theatre and affiliated faculty with Game Studies and Design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, my teaching spans immersive experience design, stage management, game studies, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Across all my courses, I guide students in developing practical skills while exploring how design thinking and human-centered experience design can inform creative work.

I teach at both undergraduate and graduate levels, often blending traditional theatrical practice with emerging fields of interactive and playable design. My courses invite students to center the audience experience, think critically about engagement and agency, and explore how interaction shapes meaning.

Courses Taught

DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE (2017 – Present)Undergraduate Theatre CoursesTHEA 100: Theatre Practicum – Stage CrewTHEA 199: Topics (Technology in Stage Management; Escape Room Design)THEA 200: Theatre Practicum – Assistant Stage ManagementTHEA 300: Theatre Practicum – Undergraduate Stage ManagementTHEA 359: Undergraduate Stage Management Seminar (Design Thinking; Outreach/Engagement; Project Management)Mixed-Level Theatre CoursesTHEA 400: Theatre Practicum – Advanced Stage ManagementTHEA 402: Designing Immersive Adventures - Escape RoomsTHEA 406: Opera and Dance Stage ManagementTHEA 409: Stage Management WorkshopTHEA 450: Stage Management Seminar (Technology in Stage Management)FAA 499 / THEA 559: Escape Rooms as Immersive TheatreGraduate Theatre CoursesTHEA 551: Graduate Topics (Design Research)THEA 559: Graduate Stage Management Seminar (Technology)

GAME STUDIES & DESIGN (2021 – Present)GSD 390: Special Topics (Theatrical Tabletop Role-Playing Game Design)GSD 597: Special Topics (Theatrical Puzzle Rooms – Independent Study)

Pedagogical Approach

In all of my courses, I emphasize:Experience Design: Encouraging students to think beyond the artist’s perspective and focus on the experience of participants, audiences, and players.Experiential Learning: Structuring courses around project-based work that results in fully realized designs, often for real-world or public audiences.Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Facilitating collaboration across disciplines, including design, performance, engineering, and education.Transformational Experiences: Helping students design interactive work that fosters empathy, reflection, and personal meaning for participants.Human-Centered Design: Incorporating design thinking principles to help students balance creative vision with the needs and experiences of their audiences.Many of my courses create opportunities for students to design live, immersive, and interactive experiences—ranging from fully produced escape rooms and playable theatre projects to tabletop role-playing games and complex stage management processes for opera, dance, and live performance.