I saw this show almost two years ago and the album finally came out, which reminded me to write a Yelp review. My boyfriend and I regularly bring up how amazing it was and how much we want it to come back to LA. This show is absolutely visionary. It is hauntingly beautiful yet cacophonous (in the best way) - a visual, sonic, and story telling adventure. I'm really good at sweeping my feelings under the rug and this show was also weirdly therapeutic, forcing me to feel something for a change! I'm writing this for if and HOPEFULLY when the show comes back to LA. It's a whole immersive experience. Lean into it. Get a fancy drink. Do it up and enjoy! Warning, the show is very loud. I think it adds to the experience in a huge way and is meant to be mildly uncomfortable, but if you are sensitive, maybe bring ear plugs. read more

Loooved the show and the whole experience! It was truly immersive. Loved the story and the Soundtrack was amazing, visual effects was mesmerizing; the whole production was spectacular!!! Highly recommend!! My husband is not really into shows, he just goes cuz I love them, but he actually truly enjoyed the whole production! Please come back to LA!! And make more like it!! read more

We all had a phenomenal time. The experience was so unique. The guy is a creative genius. This is way more interesting than watching a normal musical. Highly recommend to anyone! Bring ear plugs if you have sensitive ears. read more

While I totally love immersive theater, I felt this one was trying to be cool for being cool's sake. The pre-show reminded me a bit of a Punchdrunk production. The bar and tree area were great for ambiance. I would never pay that much for a drink or whatever they called them. I wish I got to do one of the small group experiences, but there wasn't anyone informing me about what was possible. This part also reminded me of a Punch Drunk production, like Sleep No More or The Dying Man. The crowd-- pretty much drunk. The drunk older couple behind me talked throughout the show. During the intermission, I moved to the last row to get away from them where there were some seats. And wouldn't you know it, the drunk couple moved as well and sat right next to me again. Geez! The actual stage show was interesting for a few moments. But the story is plodding, predictable, and emotionless. I just didn't really care about the two-dimensional characters. The fact that other than the main character (and a few "chorus?" people and the beginning and the end), the rest are projections made me think that the entire show was pre-recorded and lip-synced. However, it appears, that the lead character possibly does sing. The music is fine, somewhat EDM and new wave ballads, but nothing memorable. You won't go home singing the score. It works but it's not anything truly amazing. However, as an activity, I think this would be fun for a group of friends to attend together. read more

Cages - Chemist bar for emotional mixology $17 a drink - Performing Arts Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Loved the dramatic entrance and immersive experience in the bar area while waiting for seating to begin. The show itself? Phenomenal...I think. What a creative, unique way to tell a story with cool and original music. Had we actually been able to see the stage, I would have been able to give this a better rating. I paid almost $100 a ticket to take my mom to the show and this was our view of the stage. It's not worth that kind of money for seats like this. I was not happy. read more

Cages - We were in the third seating group. - Performing Arts Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My fiance surprised me with tickets to Cages, and he presented it as a scary musical. Although I wasn't sure what to expect, I was definitely not prepared for what we experienced. Doors opened at 7:15 and we arrived about 7:30. Getting in was easy enough. We parked close by and walked over, had our vaccinations checked, and were given information about the show. We were then led inside a very ornately decorated room. There were books, vials, chemical equipment, and characters in costume. I felt like I was in a real-life Myst (with people, of course). We were then taken into a room to wait for our group to be called for seating. I have to say, the presentation was very well done. It was entertaining and interesting. The music, noises, ambient sounds, lighting, decor, and intercom messages really set the tone and mood. Honestly, this would be an awesome bar in and of itself. If I had known that we could hang around and drink interesting cocktails in such an environment, I would have made sure we had gotten there early. I was actually disappointed that we were on the later side, because we weren't able to fully take in our surroundings and explore. There are two bars to choose from, bench seating around this indoor tree, and performance rooms that correlate to the storyline later on. It would have been cool to have hung out here after the show as well, but it was after 10pm on a weeknight and we had to relieve grandma from a long day and night of babysitting the kids. Mom-life. The show itself was interesting and enjoyable. The music was appealing and reminding me of club music mixed with 80s pop. The visuals were well-done and artsy. There were elements of war propaganda, old time silent films, surrealism, music video, etc. The projections and and interactions between live actors and film was beautiful. Now the downsides. I couldn't see. This is primarily a one-man show. I would have liked it better with more people throughout, but it was still entertaining. However, he mostly stayed somewhere in the middle of the stage. The way the seating is arranged, the head of the man in front of me was directly in the middle of the stage. So, for the majority of the performance, I couldn't see what was happening. I wish they had taken that into account when they were mapping out Woolf's movements. Secondly, it was too loud. I mean, they said this before walking in and offered ear plugs behind the bar. I should have picked up a pair, because the volume was overwhelming. I thought about grabbing some during intermission, but I was worried that I would miss more of the lyrics, which were already hard to hear at points because of the volume of the music. I mean, my fiance has really bad hearing because all his favorite hobbies are loud and he doesn't always use ear protection, and even he was complaining about the sound. That's how I knew it was bad. I also think the flashing strobe lights were too much. But that's just my lowly opinion. Lastly, the storyline was very reminiscent of a 1984 Orwellian dystopia, mixed with The Hunchback of Notre Dame, mixed with Chaplin's Modern Times, the movie Warm Bodies, some Tim Burton, etc. I could see influences from many other works. It wasn't the most original or complex plot line, but it was easy to follow and it kept the attention. Overall, I thought it was a great performance, and I'm glad that I got to experience it. read more

Cages Is such a unique and spectacular show. I first came across Cages from a TikTok, and they captured the emotion of the event by short clips and it immediately got my attention, and I immediately loved it! So much so, that I have gone 4 times, bringing a new group of non-loving theatre friends with me each time, and they instantly became hooked to the idea of immersive/interactive theatre! Without spoiling too much, as the show is intended to go in pretty blindly - the storyline is a Romeo and Juliet style of forbidden love, actually forbidden emotion showing. Be prepared to interact with some actors if you show some emotion, I encourage you to play along, it's fun! The music is complex and catchy! I have the soundtrack always playing on Spotify. The emotional mixology was interesting and delicious, we all enjoyed Love and Lust and crave it frequently. CJ Baren and Wondashow have caught my heart with this story and I can't wait until they come back from London for more Cages and/or create more stories (Cuddles ). read more

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So let me start off by saying... this show is different. Here are some of the takeaways: Show Expectation: It's a one man show, meaning, the main character is basically the only character that performs throughout the show. There are 5 other live performers that come out for a total of maybe 5 minutes throughout the show (little bit of singing/dancing). The other 2 main characters are holograms (which I was super bummed about) because these characters are vital to the development of the main character and overall plot. Length: Part 1- 50 min Intermission - 20 min Part 2 - 50 min Music: The beats, music, and singing abilities are on point. The only downfall is that the music is so loud that you can't hear the lyrics or understand what the characters are saying sometimes. The bass is so loud that I would recommend everyone wear ear plugs throughout the entire show. The bass is literally deafening and hurts your ears at some points in the show. Special Effects: The special effects are on point. I really liked all of the projector images/effects. Beware- there is a ton of fast flashing and super bright strobe lights. Timeline: Not sure if this is as a one time occurrence but our show on 2/12/22 ran an entire hour late. We were part of section 1 seating and we're told we would be seated at 7pm (so we arrived at 6:45) but we didn't actually get seated until 8pm. Decor/Setting/Bar: The decor/setting is pretty amazing. It's definitely goth/dark vibes in terms of setting and decor which sets the tone for the show. If you do buy VIP tickets, you'll get to sit in a roped off area behind the tree. The theater is hidden halfway down a dark alley and has free parking within the same alley, so no need to worry about parking. Cocktails are $17 each. The theater is very small and seats about 150 people or less. 1 door in and 1 door out, so bottlenecking does happen before, after, and at intermission. read more

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If Pink Floyd and Tim Burton had an orgy with the smiths, postal service, Morrissey, all while dropping acid. And they had this dark disturbed melodious baby. This is the best way I can describe my experience with this phenomenal exposure to this metaphoric creation. I was blown away by the music, and by the sick and twisted love story. Now idk if its clear,but I loved it. And absolutely recommend this experience to everyone. But stay home if you're prone to seizures and are bothered by flickering lights and loud noises. Otherwise go check it out. read more

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My bf and I saw this show two years ago and have been DYING for it to come back. This group of artists is unmatched and the experienced is something you can't find anywhere else (we've been searching). I hope they come back to LA!! read more

If you see anything this year in a time where we have been endlessly glued to our distant screens, go see the musical theatre experience CAGES in downtown LA. It is truly unlike anything I have seen before, combining one man show with interactive music video with musical theatre and so much more. CAGES tells the story of a rare man named Woolf capable of musical expression in a world devoid of emotion and passion and how he meets a woman who changes his life forever. Woolf is the audience's tangible connection to our world as the actor interacts with 3D projections and synchronous visuals on stage, seamlessly blending the two visual mediums together. The use of shadows and silhouettes is unparalleled and all of this visual majesty is scored by a soundtrack that infuses darkwave with hip hop with 1920s music box with orchestra and it just keeps on going. Being in the humble theatre itself adds to the one of a kind immersion as you enter through a parking lot alleyway and through a stage door leading you to a vintage otherworldly library/apothecary where actors will stare at you and, if you're lucky, feel your heartbeat as you wait to be guided into the auditorium that's been designed to smell like the woods; a sensory indulgence that I've always felt that cinema needs to tap into. I hope they continue to add shows throughout the year, because this was a tear inducing experience I've enjoyed twice so far and it deserves the support of anyone dying to experience something inspirational and unique. read more

Cages - Performing Arts Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I'll try to keep this simple if you are looking to attend: Pro: It's an innovative one man musical leveraging some smart motion graphic set deck. Cons: It's a bland one man musical story about love Heavy on the auto tune and the pieces feel reminiscent of a Kanye performance. (Heavy on bass and auto tune) but 3rd rate originality. FLAT SEATING. The biggest mishap here is seating. It's level. Literally the worst thing other than a mediocre show is one that creates all seats equal. Anyone behind row 1 will 100% have heads, hair and hats in every view of the stage. Did I enjoy it. It was okay. The only redemption was that we had the very last seats in the theatre and as a result we basically just stood for the 2 hour show to ensure we could see it. But the story and some of the musical pieces did make my eyes roll. Originality... interesting. Execution good. Audience setup awful. IF YOU HAVE ATTENDED; read the other 2 start reviews. Because they are all accurate takes and much funnier in their write ups than I. read more

Took my girlfriend here who has a BA in Theatre from USC since I thought it would be a fun date night but we both left the theater angry (but laughing), confused, and feeling like we got robbed of $85. This show is worth $30/person max. Pretty much all throughout the play/musical we were going "what the fuck" and a lot of the plot didn't make sense. Story was garbage but I recommend it if you wanna have a good laugh. There were marching Christmas trees/traffic cone people and at one point homeboy started solving some math equation to make bad EDM by grinding gears.(?!?) The biggest wtf moment!? When the moon started singing. Gf and I both bursted out in laughter cause it was so bad it looked like a parody of the sun baby in Teletubbies. Also the whole "boy with the red heart" was so lame and cliche I now narrate my 10-lb shih tzu when he poops and refer to him as the boy with the brown poop. It makes my gf laugh every time. Lastly, I wanted to leave towards the end cause I couldn't take it anymore but they wouldn't let us (along with other people who got up before it finished) so we were just all standing by the exit packed like sardines forced to watch til the end waiting to be let out. Anywho that's been my experience. "The beginning." ‍ read more

I've followed Woolf and the Wondershow's journey on this show from the HYNPT in 2016 to the preview days of CAGES in 2019. I was blown away then, fell in love again when they did the stream during the heart of the pandemic, and can't wait to attend one of the final shows this weekend. The effects are unlike any other stage show I've seen and really blow many performances in general out of the water. The music with haunt you (in a good way) long after you've left. Disclaimer: If you're not a fan of things that are emo, synth, goth, steampunk, punk, etc. then this probably isn't a show for you. read more

Overall it was a good performance!! The location threw me off when we went, the place is in an "industrial" part. I would highly suggest valet parking, it was maybe 10 dollars at the most. They did a really good job with the set up it really immerses you into the musical with everyone dressed up throughout the place. The only negative thing I would have about this place overall is the AC is not the greatest. It was really warm inside and I was sweating crazy. Definitely give this musical a try. read more

I didn't like it. It was a One Line Story that was dragged out for around 2 hours. No emotions allowed, they fell in love, they got punished. But I never SAW it, or felt it. The acting was dull, repetitive, and monotonous. Even when they fell in love! Boring. Where was the bass everyone keeps talking about? Why did an actress make such a big deal about handing my wife an electro shock therapy ticket when nothing happened with it after all? Even our seat mates wondered wtf? It wasn't worth the $200 we paid. The drink Love was some champagne w juice or whatever. It just wasn't worth it, in my opinion. read more

The inner goth in me loved everything that this show had to offer. I take off some stars because I wasn't expecting it to predominantly be a one man show. The music could be improved and the diversity of their cast should be more prevalent in the performances. I expected to see more performer involvement than projected images. The plot is thin and needs more flavor. The flat romance is played out. Your imagery of the coned "authority" figures made me think of the KKK. Sorry. Had to say it... I see that this is a work in progress. You'll get there. I support your effort. I see so much more potential, however... read more

if you're looking for a musical experience unlike any other, you've found it. I wouldn't call Cages a true musical, but that doesn't make it a bad thing. In fact, most musicals usually have at least one point where I find myself bored and this certainly didn't happen here. I was captivated the entire time! Cages uses unique melodies with heavy bass and impressive digital production techniques to tell it's story. I was getting Muse-like vibes, some Kanye-like beats, and Coldplay-like feels. The vocalist (main character) was amazing and the entire production really did WOW. I even saw some audience members crying (tears of joy) while leaving the auditorium. While the experience itself isn't thought-provoking or very active in a sense, it is entertaining and does manage to pull emotion from a story about being emotionless. You can tell a lot of thought and work was put into this and I would definitely recommend Cages to anyone looking for a unique experience. Also, the lust cocktail at the pop-up bar was one of the best cocktails I had all night. And I went to several bars. read more

I've never seen anything like this - if you want to experience something truly unique, grab tickets before it is too late and let yourself be swept away. And if you're lucky you may get a 1:1 during intermission! Would love more of the soundtrack, have the songs stuck in my head after one viewing!!! read more

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Just as a late thought: the bass may have felt overwhelming because I and my group were seated in the back corner (the cheaper seats). Bass frequencies build up in corners, so perhaps that explains why it was so overpowering for us (although some of us were closer to the door than the corner). Perhaps the more central seats have a more balanced sound! If I go see it again, I'll update again from a different seat! read more

CAGES is unlike any kind of theatre or musical or immersive show I've been to in LA. It's all bottled up into one kind of experience and totally delivers you an incredible performance. The atmosphere is set the moment you walk in through those doors and exit into the coolest looking chemistry bar. Looking around at all the little details could take me multiple visits to decode and appreciate. The drinks are so unique, totally worth the price point (or just get a VIP ticket and you get one included in the price). Walking into the theatre is an EXPERIENCE! There's peepholes and doors open to peek inside, try to take it in while but guard your emotions or you might be stopped by a guard! The theatre was made as a 360 degree 4D experience. It you are sensitive to bass grab some earplugs... but I didn't have a problem! The lighting and the bass all make the emotions you are feeling so visceral. I've never seen screens used on stage like this, you have to see it to believe it. For the first 10 minutes I wasn't sure if I was watching this live, or it was recorded. The acting is seamless and precise. The main character's (Woolf) voice is haunting and beautiful. I don't think he can get any better. It worth getting another drink during intermission. There's actors walking around and the ringing of the bells telling me I'm out past curfew still set the mood! You cannot miss this show! read more

I hate writing bad reviews especially for a production that could've been great but unfortunately I thought this show was garbage. Music, production, performances were all great but the story was absolute trash - like horribly bad - and the steampunk graphics and props are so dated it's laughable. The dystopian district stuff was also really trite. Thankfully I didn't pay to go because if I had I would've stormed the stage in outrage. read more

Very disappointed. Cheap show . No class . No story . No emotion. Terrible terrible music . I thought would be something dark rock cool and unique . It's just some lighting & projecting games , I don't think many people actually enjoyed that much . Most people got high they were already drunk and high with something . these days in Los angels , people are sheep . Anything others says cool and they would follow and say so . For people think this is amazing , I am sorry you haven't met art yet . read more

Phenomenal music and production design. The main singers performance is remarkable. I'm shocked to see anyone give this a low review. I've never seen anything like this and it will definitely go down in my personal history as a top 3 theater shows I've seen. ( out of 100s) The negative reviewers main critique seems to be that the story line is weak. I would agree that it's a vary bare bones story. I wouldnt let that knock any points off my score though let alone most of the points. This is like a live music video .... Not so much a story driven performance. It's like a 2 hour high octane concert with bits of story thrown in to help get it from song to song. It's like those acts on America's got talent. Ya know those ones where the lights go out and they do all this crazy projection and light show stuff... it's that times 10. If they ever make a sequel or something I'd love a show with a few more characters. It would also be great if they used the projection to show more close ups of the actors faces. Getting to see that emotion play out in folks eyes would definitely add to the experience. I guarantee if the show intrigues you, and if you are reading yelp reviews it probably does, then you should get yourself some tickets and check it out. Find out for yourself what makes it unique. For me, personally, it's like nothing I've ever seen. read more

The way the place is built out is super cool and moody. Drinks were good. They didn't over crowd the place. The play's visual effects were amazing but I was sad to see that the majority of the actors were not on stage for much of the play. Many scenes where just a single guy singing and standing still. I was dying for some background dancers to play up the projected visual effects. Also I think they could have built the seating up so it's more elevated towards the back. I was in the 4th row and could not see more than 20% of the screen at a time due to the people's heads in front of me blocking almost the entire screen. I liked the way the house lighting was incorporated into the effects. I liked the music and the concept. But watching someone stand still for 3 minutes singing blocked by heads was lacking... a lot. read more

This was fun, as a former/current (?) Goth who's into musical theater this was fun. Loved the name of the drinks and the visuals. They don't warn you when to silence your phones so just do it before you walk into the building. Glad we checked it out. read more

This show is a must see! I was super nervous and skeptical about even going but this was a wonderful show and experience for almost all! It can get loud in there sometimes but if you are not sensitive to loud sounds you are fine and if you are I believe they even give out earplugs! This should definitely be on your bucket list for an LA thing to do! read more

My summation of this experience: it's just a dude with a hunchback stumbling around some holograms to EDM ‍ Drinks were alright, the pre-show area was staged much like a universal studios ride so that was cool, and the actor was good. read more

A sensory experience that takes you on a theatrical whimsical journey complete with sound and stage.ant to boot, an amazing pop-up tavern. A must see! read more

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If you love theater this is a MUST SEE! And MAKE IT A SURPRISE! Don't read all the details and ruin it. Just get tickets and go! The best way to experience this is to go in with no expectations and know nothing about it. Even the bartenders and cast said so themselves. That's what we did and I'm so glad I didn't read what it was all about or the details and ruin all the surprises! Surprise date night! read more

Personally, I loved it! Very innovative and nothing I've seen done before. My boyfriend took me for my bday. We both had great things to say. I feel the VIP is worth it if you can. Though all the seating looked fine to me. I would watch again. It's a performance from the moment you walk in. Lots of interaction and surprises. read more

Got covid and tried to cancel the day before but they refuse to give me a refund or let me see the show at a different time..... really unfortunate not only do I have to deal with covid but also losing $170 read more

By far one of the coolest shows I've ever seen. This is my third time going to see it. I really recommend it to anyone who is interested in a unique show. read more

This was one of the coolest things I have ever experienced! From the moment you walk into the building, you are transformed into another world- the world of Anhedonia. I am completely blown away by the beauty and intricate details in the play/musical but also in the world that you explore before entering the theater. The bar is gorgeous and I adored the LOVE cocktail. The performance was wonderful- the acting, story, and the songs were so entertaining. I have been listening to a few songs from the show that were released on Amazon prime music (I think you can also find it on Spotify) under Woolf and the Wondershow, and I especially love Cloaked, Vandal, Masquerade and Talking to the Mirror. These songs are really upbeat and fun, which pleasantly contrasted the dark magical ambiance of the play. One other reviewer here mentioned the bass level being a problem, but I think they fixed that issue. I had no problem with the volume. My husband and elderly aunt both have extremely sensitive ears and did fine with some earplugs when they thought it was too loud, and still enjoyed it immensely. They provide ear plugs at the bar. If modern, pop music in a love story/musical with technologically advanced graphics with a sort of Hunchback of Notre Dame/ Tim Burton, magical, biblical feel mixed with an mystical amusement park/bar to explore during intermission and pre/post show sounds fun to you, you will love Cages! read more

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It's like if a music video director did a perfume commercial of an incel's one man show. Confusingly high production value for a story that's so thin and derivative it's boring. And I'm not some theater snob, I saw that Spiderman Broadway show. read more

Amazing show, performances, artwork and atmosphere!! Wonderful artistic show I really enjoyed it.

Overall a great idea however the venue itself is not ideal. When you pay $85 a ticket you expect to see the performance but instead you see the back of the head of the person in front of you. It is also way too loud but luckily I read other reviews that mentioned this so I brought ear plugs. If you forget to bring some the bartenders have them. Lastly be prepared that this venue is small, crowded, and hotter than hell. If you're not a fan of hot yoga or are the slightest bit claustrophobic, this venue is not a great place to see a show. read more

Amazing show!! Visually and musically would definitely recommend it. Also just Uber there valet sucks got my car damaged.

Fantastic. Highly recommend anyone interested in stylized, music-driven shows to check Cages out. You'll notice the other negative reviews are negative mainly because the commenters have a personal preference. The whole point of this show is to come in without expectations. Just because a show isn't your personal preference/taste, doesn't make a show bad. Cages is an excellent show and do yourself a favor and ignore the nasty comments coming from people with clearly a chip on their shoulder. read more

This was really fun. The mood was set early on it was our first time so we didn't know what to expect. The music was excellent and the audio visuals were the best. Highly recommend read more