By Teresa Acosta and Alejandrina Avila, Oct. 29, 2024
The Renaissance Faire met Halloween spookiness in the pop-up escape room The Tyrant’s Curse, created by the Themed Entertainment Association Club for Bronco Fright Fest Oct. 22-25.
The escape room, temporarily set up in the Bronco Student Center, took over a year of planning by a dedicated team from the TEA club. The club, which focuses on theme parks and themed experiences, teamed up with the Cal Poly Pomona theatre department and the Maker’s Studio, to turn the room into a cursed dungeon with puzzles, clues, sound effects, wearable props and curators.
“I am one of what we call the curators,” said Emmett Sloan, the president of TEA and an industrial engineering student. “We’re in there helping to make sure you guys are having a fun time, making sure that there are clues or help give hints where we can.”
Sloan said about 20 people were involved in the creation of this pop-up. He said he was grateful for spaces like the Maker’s Studio for allowing them to use the equipment to make elements such as stickers for props.
Sloan recommended the mid-term season on campus is the right time for taking a break to experience the free escape room.
“It’s a good stress reliever because all of a sudden my mind is off of everything,” Sloane said. “I am not thinking about calculus. I am not thinking about material science. I am here.”
The 22-minute escape room had a medieval feel with fake, lit candles and red curtains that hung tall with an extraordinary bookshelf filled with potions and trinkets that were a part of finding clues with hidden coins and a spell book. The dim lighting added to the ambience, as well as the cleverly timed sound effects that heightened the suspense.
The event not only engaged students’ minds but also fostered a sense of community, as participants tackled challenges together. Strangers became friends, united in the thrill of the experience.
Vennessa Chase, an English student and first-time participant, heard about the escape room during the club fair, and an invitation to join a game was extended by one of the operators after a participant failed to show up, creating an open spot.
“The atmosphere was really nice,” Chase said. “I felt like it really immersed me in the experience. I couldn’t even tell I was off in a little side room in the BSC.”
The curator’s humorous approach, using accents and cheeky jokes — such as “thee Chappell Roan, I know about the ‘HOT TO GO!’” — added an enjoyable layer to the experience, ensuring it was both challenging and entertaining.
Computer science student Joshua Banuelos served as one of the game masters. In this role, he was responsible for cueing sound effects and ensuring that the immersive elements of the game were functioning properly. Additionally, he provided entertainment by organizing dice games for participants in the waiting room, which was called The Tavern. This added an engaging social aspect to the overall experience.
“It took a lot of work, consistent meetings and a lot of help from various parts like ASI letting us host here,” Banuelos said. “It all really came together great. I hope that we can run it again.”
Feature image courtesy of TEA Club
