For the last few years, our friend David Ruzicka has been a man of many talents behind the scenes at many places, such as Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Creative, Weta Workshop, and even searching as Co-Artistic Director with JFI Productions (the folks behind CREEP and THE WILLOWS). But now, he is teaming up with Eric M. Vosmeier and OA Experiential to bring us “I want to live in your mouth.”, a waking fever dream that probes the darkest corners of our childhood imagination.

What lives in the back of your closet? What stirs in the dust beneath your bed? What stares unblinking from just outside the glow of your nightlight? Maybe they’ve been here all this time. Maybe you’ve willed yourself not to see them. But no longer. The things you always imagined lurking in the dark are beyond mere fantasy.

Only one guest at a time will experience this 20 minute immersive horror tale, where Writer/Director David Ruzicka and Creative Producer Eric Vosmeier lead a team of technical experts, environmental storytellers, and immersive theatrical performers in a nod to classic body horror and dark fantasy films of the 80’s and 90’s.

Each guest will be invited to join a troubled individual reliving a vivid looping memory of
the day new visitors came calling to their childhood home. Hiding within the surreal
spaces of “I want to live in your mouth.” are a collection of unforgettably nightmarish
residents, realized by a group of world-renowned creature makers whose names must
be kept secret for their safety…and for yours.

We managed to corner Ruzicka and Vosmeier while they were trying to get inside our mouth, and asked them a few questions about the experience.

HorrorBuzz: We are really interested in knowing where the idea for the show came from, and what inspired you…

DAVID RUZICKA: This one has been percolating for a long time. It stems from dreams and daydreams I’ve had since I was young — there are parts that have been burrowing around in the dark for a while.

The structure was inspired by both making and attending immersive theatrical shows with solo guest portions. I want to keep making the case for the power of this format. Extreme haunts, too, although this experience is not that…they informed the approach, but this is more about dread and suspense than extreme physical moments.

Movies are definitely a guilty party. Lynch and Cronenberg are perpetual life influences, but also films like Jacob’s Ladder and The Tenant. There’s also just a love for straight-up supernatural horror like The Conjuring — I was always impressed by the mythos around its ‘R rating for terror.’ The sense that something could be restricted not for sex, violence, or nudity, but for how plain scary it is.

HorrorBuzz: Since this show is about childhood fears, which ones of your own stuck with you while growing up?

DAVID RUZICKA: I have a vivid imagination that conjures a lot of things, so even as a kid I was afraid of my own brain. Things just out of sight, or muffled in other rooms when you think you’re alone. Windows out to the dark — I was always waiting for that face to show up, looking in. Specific places…running up the steps from the basement when you’re sure something is behind you. Rooms that just don’t feel right. The dark is still the most powerful and potent mystery of all.

ERIC VOSMEIER: I’ve never forgotten a set of recurring dreams from when I was young centered around these odd, large-headed, human-like creatures. Their appearance was always accompanied by a sensation of something large emerging from my stomach and out my mouth – though it never actually came out. Distinctly, I remember the feeling of waking up and having only glimpses of what they looked like and what they were doing – it all faded away so quickly, while the feelings, the remembrances grew stronger. That always-on-the-periphery of memory sensation is what appeals to me about this script. The experience of the nightmare is one thing, but the distorted memory of it occupies its own terrible and curious place in my mind. I’m looking forward to sharing that terror with our guests.

HorrorBuzz.com: You teamed up with OA Experiential for this…can you tell us anything about the partnership? How did it come about and what sort of cool stuff were you able to come up with with them?

ERIC VOSMEIER: I’ve been working on projects for OA Experiential for the last year. As the relationship developed, I began discussions about the idea of aligning them with some of the best immersive creators in order to build a symbiotic collaboration with experts in the field. The OA Immersive Core provides creators with a production company backbone of support, places them in creative roles on high level experiential brand activations, and provides resources for their independent creative endeavors.

As a natural extension of that, OA has also stepped forward as an investor in this piece with an eye toward further capital investments in our creators future productions. Matt Ford, owner of OA Experiential, and I want to not just create work for the Core members (who will be announced very soon), but also wanted to figure out how to meaningfully support their work. With this investment in I want to live in your mouth., we’re figuring out the model for these kinds of partnerships. This is only the beginning of what we’ll be working toward as the program evolves and grows.

Their participation in this production was not only financial. They’re providing support for our most basic needs for mounting a production: assisting with logistics, payment processing, insurance needs, and serving as advisers to David and myself.

HorrorBuzz.com: We know you are keeping things tight-lipped, but can you spill any tea about what lives inside?

DAVID RUZICKA:The tricky thing is we want people to be a little uncertain what they witnessed even after they’re done! I can say this: you will encounter otherworldly creatures up close like never before…made by some true connoisseurs in creaturedom. You’ll see things that don’t seem possible. You’ll encounter immersive horror tropes twisted in new ways.

In a practical sense, this is a hands-on experience. Guests will be touched and moved, and there is definitely a level of sensorial intensity. But we also hope the experience is accessible to fans of darker story material and visuals who don’t want to be debased or completely traumatized.

What has intruded into this space is very old. It can take on many forms. And it’s jealous of what we all have. It’s not to be trusted.

ERIC VOSMEIER: What lives inside this place, lives inside all of us as well. We’re inviting guests to remember what it’s like to live out a terrible dream through the eyes of a child. When you enter, forget what you fear as an adult – those things don’t matter here. Remember what you feared as a child and watch it come to life all around you. But be careful about letting it in.

The show will be staged at Zombie Joe’s Underground (4850 Lankershim Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91601) and runs March 28 through May 5.

Tickets for the show are on sale TODAY and cost $47.50 for each visit. You can purchase them at: https://inyourmouth.ticketspice.com/i-want-to-live-in-your-mouth

We are VERY excited about this!