Hidden down a quiet street in Philadelphia, shrouded in mystery, is one of the most unique theatrical experiences in the world.

Spiritual Experience is a private performance with seating for two people. It is designed to be viewed by friends and familiars, or by one person alone. Like a restaurant with only one table, set for you and a cherished companion, Spiritual Experience is a uniquely intimate encounter. No one else witnesses what you witness. It is just for you.

Spiritual Experience is sensual and cerebral, psychedelic and silly, strange and beautiful, and it is unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Directed by Rebecca Wright (Applied Mechanics, Arden Theatre Company), written by Adriano Shaplin (The Riot Group, Royal Shakespeare Company) and featuring a one-of-a-kind scenic design by Nikki Delhomme, the contents of Spiritual Experience will forever remain a secret—revealed only to those who witness.

Experience what audiences are calling “a pilgrimage to a distant place”, “truly astonishing”, “sonic, tactile and visual poetry”, “beyond immersive”, “like a ceremony in an alternate universe”, “magical”, “mind-altering”, “delicious”, and “sublime”.

Spiritual Experience is not frightening and it does not involve audience participation.

Photo: Wide Eyed Studios

Learn more at www.spiritualexperience.xyz)

All 40 performances of Spiritual Experience in the 2025 Philadelphia Fringe Festival are sold out. Audiences who missed out can still experience this one-of-a-kind performance: tickets for October, November, and December are now on sale at www.spiritualexperience.xyz

Two hands in red fishnets reach out from the left side towards a gold ball, a red ball, a small glass bottle with a black ruffled object and blood splatters in the foreground.

An image with a blue filter of a woman’s hand out of focus holding a round gold mirror reflecting only half of her face, in focus, with smeared blue eyeshadow over her eye.

A woman’s backside in a pink shiny leotard cast in red light inside of a round blue shutter.

Performance Information

September 3-28, 2025

Sept 4, 5 at 6pm + 8pm
Sept 6 at 11am + 1pm + 6pm + 8pm
Sept 7 at 11am + 1pm
Sept 11, 12 at 6pm + 8pm
Sept 13 at 11am + 1pm + 6pm + 8pm
Sept 14 at 11am + 1pm
Sept 18, 19 at 6pm + 8pm
Sept 20 at 11am + 1pm + 6pm + 8pm
Sept 21 at 11am + 1pm
Sept 25, 26 at 6pm + 8pm
Sept 27 at 11am + 1pm + 6pm + 8pm
Sept 28 at 11am + 1pm

Pricing

$200 Standard

1 ticket. 2 seats. $200. Your reservation includes both seats. Bring a companion, or witness alone.
A limited number of $70 tickets will be available. Email patronservices@fringearts.com for more information.

Venue

The Private Theater
3408 Brandywine Street 19104

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About the Artists

Rebecca Wright

Rebecca Wright (Director) is a director-creator and a founding company member of Applied Mechanics, with whom she has created over a dozen original immersive works, most recently the science fiction epic Other Orbits. Other favorite projects include Indecent, The Hobbit, Backing Track, Pinocchio, Red Riding Hood (the Arden), Perfect Day and Spiritual Experience (The Private Theater), Always the Hour (Annie Wilson), Articles of Faith (Cynthia Hopkins), Wig Wag (Emily Bate), Close Music for Bodies (Michael Kiley), Head Over Heels (Theatre Horizon), Peaceable Kingdom (Orbiter 3), and her own adaptation of The Wild Duck (Quintessence Theater Group). Rebecca has contributed writing to publications by TCG, Ecotone, Routledge, and Haymarket. She is a two-time recipient of the Independence Fellowship in the Arts and a 2024 Pew Fellow.

Adriano Shaplin

Adriano Shaplin (Playwright, Performer, Sound Designer) has written plays for Pig Iron (Hell Meets Henry Halfway), New Paradise Laboratories (Freedom Club), the Royal Shakespeare Company (The Tragedy of Thomas Hobbes), and The Riot Group (Wreck the Airline Barrier, Victory at the Dirt Palace, Pugilist Specialist, Sophie Gets the Horns). His first private theater piece, Perfect Day, was co-presented by Headlong Dance Theater in 2018. His plays have been translated and produced in Greece, Denmark, Brazil, India, Argentina, and Japan and have been published by Oberon books, Playscripts Inc, 53rd Street Press, and the Wadsworth Anthology of Drama.

Nikki Delhomme

Nikki Delhomme (Scenic and Costume Designer) is a Philadelphia-based designer with nearly 20 years of experience in theatre, dance, opera and film/tv. A recent transplant from NYC, Nikki brings a dramaturgical, scenography-based approach to world-building, and thrives in interdisciplinary teams. Recent Philly-area projects include The Hobbit (Arden Theatre), Penelope (Theatre Horizon/PSF), Poor Judge (Pig Iron), Other Orbits (Applied Mechanics), and Perfect Day (The Private Theater). She holds a BFA/Carnegie Mellon and a MFA/Yale and is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829.www.nikkidelhomme.com

Michael Lambui

Michael Lambui (Lighting Designer) is a Philadelphia-based set/lighting designer, production manager, and technical director for all forms of the performing arts. He has worked with companies such as: The Bearded Ladies Cabaret, Applied Mechanics, The Private Theater, Tiny Dynamite, UPenn Theatre Arts Program, Swarthmore Theater, Headlong Dance Theater, The Savoy Company, Villanova Theatre, and Drexel Theatre Company. Currently, he’s the Production Coordinator at the Philadelphia Ballet, working closely with the Community Education and Public Programs staff, The School of Philadelphia Ballet staff, and all other aspects of production. To see more of his work, visit michaellambui.com

Creative Team

Rebecca Wright Director

Adriano Shaplin Playwright/Performer/Sound Designer

Nikki Delhomme Set & Costume Designer

Michael Lambui Lighting Designer

Rob Emanuele Additional Music

Amy Smith Spiritual Guidance

Supporters

Spiritual Experience is made possible by the generous support of Chung S. Lam, Sallie Findlay, Marina McDougall, Serena Romero, and Stephanie Viola.

Producers
Anne and Ed Wagner

Accessibility

The seats for Spiritual Experience are not wheelchair accessible at this time. Those with mobility concerns may call the FringeArts box office to determine if the show is right for them.

Health & Safety

Masks are optional, vaccines are not required. More information about FringeArts COVID policies can be found here.

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Spiritual Experience

September 4-28, 2025

75 min

$200

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