The Story
The Gold Top is a music-driven immersive play about a burned-out guitarist, a pawn shop find, and the slow, strange unraveling of memory, myth, and melody. As his gigs get bigger, so does the sense that something—someone—is following him. Watching from the wings. Waiting for the final note.
Set in dive bars, green rooms, trailers, and the cracked corners of Los Angeles, the show folds the audience into the action. You're not watching from a seat—you’re in the crowd, in the moment, pulsing with the band.
Written and directed by Ric Krause, the story is built to unfold like a live album—emotional, atmospheric, and never the same twice.
The music is original—composed specifically for this story—and performed live throughout. With a score by Emmy-nominated composer Joshua Funk and a mix by legendary producer Steve Albini (Nirvana, The Pixies), The Gold Top doesn’t just play—it echoes. Some songs haunt you. This one invites you in.
Currently in development inside an intimate black box space, the show is experimenting in real time—refining its voice, reshaping its form, and discovering what kind of world it wants to be. It moves like a half-forgotten dream, unfolding in moments of rhythm, silence, and sudden recognition.
The end goal is a full-scale, multi-sensory theatrical event—somewhere between a Southern gothic, a rock revival, and a story you didn’t live, but somehow remember.
Writing & Direction
Ric Krause wrote the original script, and lyrics. His credits include Comeback (20th Fox/James Cameron, Prod.),Black Box (Warner Bros/Senator), Forever, Anna (Castle Rock), Crime Star (USA), Cure, The Ruins, The Amazing De Carlo (NBC/ Universal), Why Things Burn - developed at the MarkTaper Forum - performed at Road Theater Company, Three Clubs, Hollywood Moguls , The Mint(LA), Margo Jones Theater (Dalllas),Calendar Girl -on a grant from the San Francisco Arts Council - performed at Life on the Water, (SF), and Dr. Jimmy’s Heartbreak Hour, developed with Naked Angels, and performed at the Itchey Foote (Taper, Too). His work in advertising includes stints at agencies such as Kaplan/Thaler, Publicis, Chiat/Day, plus numerous big brands - Mountain Dew, Toyota, Doritos, GQ, among many others, through the branded content shop, StoryPoint, of which he is a founding partner (storypointcreative.com).
Creative Producer
Evan O'Brien is the Creative Producer of The Gold Top. His background spans immersive event production, creative direction, and brand strategy. As the former West Coast Director for Slideluck, a global 501(c)(3) arts organization, he produced large-scale, one-night-only multimedia events in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle, featuring artists such as Shepard Fairey and Elliott Erwitt and partnering with brands like NPR, The New York Times, and VOGUE. He previously collaborated with Sleep No More director Mikhael Tara Garver on an immersive experience at Mack Sennett Studios in LA, blending performance and narrative design. Evan also served as Chief Creative Officer and co-founder of Capturely, a B2B creative services startup where he led CX and brand development across digital platforms. He is the founder of Slake, a marketing consultancy that helps startups and small businesses define their voice, refine their go-to-market strategy, and launch with clarity in an increasingly crowded digital landscape.
Investment & Brand Partnership
Help us build the next chapter.
The Gold Top is currently in creative development—with an ambitious, multi-sensory vision that goes far beyond a single night in a black box theater. We’re building something with long-term resonance: a fully realized immersive concert-play that lives and breathes like a live album unfolding in real time.
To get there, we’re actively seeking brand partners and investors who believe in experience-driven storytelling and want to be part of something bold, cinematic, and culturally relevant.
Why Invest in Immersive Theater?
Immersive theater is no longer a fringe experiment—it’s a proven format for both critical acclaim and commercial success. Pioneering productions like Sleep No More (NYC) and Then She Fell turned unconventional theater into sustained, profitable cultural institutions. Backed by sharp branding, location design, and brand collaboration, these shows drew international attention and loyal audiences for years.
Our Vision
We see The Gold Top not just as a show, but as a destination experience:
• A full-scale, ticketed performance in a venue designed for immersion
• A branded world where music, memory, and physical space intersect
• A platform for creative partnerships in music, fashion, beverage, and lifestyle
Whether through sponsorship, co-branded experiences, or production investment, there are multiple ways to help bring this project to life—and grow with it as it evolves. 📩 To explore partnership or investment opportunities, contact ric@storypointcreative.com