By SDCN Staff
La Jolla, CA–This week, a group of participants will traverse the University of California San Diego campus, encounter mysterious operatives, and unravel a secret society’s latest intrigue in “Decoding DaVinci,” a new immersive theatrical experience created specifically for UC San Diego.
The world-premiere production follows participants as they investigate the mystery of the 7 Pillars and uncover the identity of its newest member. Along the way, they will navigate locations across the La Jolla campus while interacting with characters woven into the story.
Part scavenger hunt, part immersive theater, part outdoor escape room, “Decoding DaVinci” turns the campus into a cinematic adventure where every corner could hold the next revelation or the next betrayal. Armed with an adventure kit, participants are summoned to a secret campus location and thrust into a cloak-and-dagger initiation unlike anything they’ve ever experienced. To survive, players must decipher cryptic codes, uncover hidden symbols, navigate shifting alliances, and outwit enemies lurking in plain sight. Along the journey, they’ll encounter mysterious characters, secret missions, and shocking revelations that blur the line between audience and protagonist.
“Decoding DaVinci” follows the success of last summer’s “Clue: A Walking Mystery” experience and is produced by the same creative team. This new adventure was designed specifically with UC San Diego in mind, making use of the sprawling quads, instantly recognizable landmarks, and hidden gems around campus.
“Decoding DaVinci was a concept that had been floating around my brain for a few years, but it wasn’t until I got to know the campus during last year’s ‘CLUE: A Walking Mystery’ that it started to come together,” said Kevin Hammonds, creator and producer of Decoding DaVinci. “The UC San Diego campus is like a universe unto itself with unique and fascinating worlds at every turn. There were so many cool sculptures and pieces of architecture that screamed to be turned into a puzzle. It was the perfect place to launch this new experience.”
“Last summer’s ‘Clue: A Walking Mystery’ showed us what’s possible when brilliant puzzle designers and storytellers meet a campus as culturally rich as UC San Diego. Those designers loved our campus so much that they have designed ‘Decoding DaVinci,’ an original world premiere experience, around it, and UC San Diego is honored to be its launch,” said Colleen Kollar Smith, executive director, campus performances and events office. “The arts here don’t just happen in traditional venues; they activate the spaces around us and pull audiences into the storytelling. ‘Decoding DaVinci’ will do exactly that, turning our campus into a living world of mystery for audiences to unravel and solve.”
“Decoding DaVinci” opens Thursday, June 4 at 2 p.m. The experience will be available
Thursdays through Sundays until July 19. The experience accommodates up to seven guests at a time, and each day can host at least 11 teams, starting at 2 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Tickets for the first two preview weeks, June 4 through June 14, are on sale at $30 per person. Tickets for June 18 through July 12 will go on sale at $40 per person.
“Decoding DaVinci” joins an already stacked lineup of summer offerings from ArtPower. To see a full list of ArtPower’s events and book tickets for “Decoding DaVinci,” click here.
