65°
The Holmdel, NJ landmark, where parts of the Emmy-winning psychological thriller were filmed, was severed from reality on Saturday, April 5, as Apple TV+ hosted a surreal, star-studded fan event that blurred the line between work-life and… after-party.
Invited influencers entered the Lumon-esque space for a live Q&A hosted by Stephen Colbert, featuring cast members Adam Scott, Britt Lower, and even director-producer Ben Stiller. Innie or outie, the vibes were immaculate.
After the Q&A? Guests were escorted (no elevators needed) to a Severance-themed after-party complete with eerie lighting, curated drinks, haunting hallways, and photo ops worthy of MDR. Yes, even the waffle party had competition.
The public was let in Sunday, April 6, for a one-day-only museum-like walkthrough of the transformed space, including Severance-inspired menus and displays. Fans posed at their “workstations,” wandered the white halls, and passed around theories like files from Kier.
And in true Lumon fashion, Apple posted a sign warning that guests were being recorded and photographed for “global streaming, recording and distribution.”
Jenn Bonis of Sayreville said she learned of the event from a cryptic email from Bell Works saying they were holding a "mysterious and important event" on April 5 and 6. The event on Saturday would be private and the one on Sunday would be public.
Bonis said she knew the event was "Severance" related and she also had a hunch that the cast would be there Saturday, but not Sunday. Turns out, she was right.
Bonis, who created special Lumon badges for her and her friends, got to rub elbows with cast members and even snagged a photo with some of them, including Stiller, whom she said was entirely down to earth.
Bonis curated Lumon badges for herself and friends for the April 5 event.
Bonis would also come to learn that the event was Emmy Awards hype, with members of the press and Emmy voters on hand.
"I'm a big fan and it was really cool to be part of it," Bonis said. "It felt very exclusive even for the public."
Meghan Longo was invited by AppleTV. A massive "Severance" fan, Longo's favorite part was getting VIP access to the exhibit to create content before the panel.
"The biggest highlight was being able to sit at their desk and use the same computer they used to do macrodata refinement," Longo said. "Being able to see the cast and discuss their experiences first-hand was a 'pinch me' moment!"
For one weekend only, fans from across the tri-state didn’t just watch "Severance" — they lived it.
Click here to follow Daily Voice White Plains and receive free news updates.
