Booked & Scene

Her Rites, written by Taylor Stark and Ty Hendrix, drops you straight into the world of Final Tradition, an alt Christian group that believes their founder is the second coming of Christ. The audience moves through the church in small groups, listening in on private moments, tense exchanges, and sermons that feel a little too familiar for comfort. You are never sure who is telling the truth, who is slipping, and who is desperately clinging to the last bit of faith they have left. Witch Hunt Theatre leans into their mission here. They use an unconventional space, keep the audience right inside the story, and let the quieter dread of spiritual control do the heavy lifting.

Spirit Leaders

Ty Hendrix plays Eli, the founder of Final Tradition, and he nails every unsettling beat. He feels like someone who could actually run a cult and make people doubt their own reality. His chemistry with Taylor Stark, who plays Hannah, keeps the tension alive. I especially liked his scenes with Liam McCarron as Sam. Watching the two of them plot and power play behind closed doors felt like we were getting a rare look at the engine room that keeps a group like this alive. His sermons were sharp, unnerving, and made the audience feel like part of the congregation. In every possible way he was the perfect mix of charming and alarming as a religious leader guiding his flock toward their fate.

Taylor Stark was magnetic as Hannah. The performance began the moment the audience checked in for name tags, and she never dropped the thread. She kept her polished face in place in public, then let it crack open in private scenes where the pressure showed through. Her final moments with Eli were painful and emotional in the best way, especially during the last sermon when the story takes its most heartbreaking turn. 

Ash Heffernan brings a different energy to Suzy, which helps ground the entire piece. I loved the moments between Sam and Suzy and the emotional journey she takes. Her doubts felt real. Her questions sounded like the voice in the back of your mind that asks what is actually happening and whether any of this makes sense. Where her story ends up is powerful and tough to shake.

Liam McCarron as Sam is the role that stuck with me the most. I was in his group, and it was the right choice. Sam is the real puppeteer in Final Tradition. He may not claim to be divine, but he pulls every string, plants every idea, and keeps every crucial lie in the air. He is the one who makes sure the water tastes a little more like wine, the one who keeps the entire church circling his gravity. His scenes with Suzy, played by Ash Heffernan, swung from gentle to cruel and showed just how manipulative he can be. He also has a great singing voice, which added an eerie texture to one of the sermons. From start to finish he is chilling, controlled, and fascinating to watch.

Holy Revelations

This production is bold, inventive, and genuinely gripping. The script by Taylor Stark and Ty Hendrix feels pulled from real life testimonies and sermons. It captures the language of control, devotion, and fear in a way that feels almost too believable. The direction from Shai Vaknine and Taylor Stark uses every corner of the church to create an experience that surrounds the audience. The hymn that fills the space is gorgeous and unsettling, and the final sermon involving Hannah’s miscarriage is staged with care and emotional weight.

I also loved the decision to have the audience follow different characters. It makes every track feel unique and encourages people to return so they can uncover more secrets and see more pieces of the story. It is a smart way to build repeat engagement and deepen the world of the story.

Unanswered Prayers

There is not much that misses here, but a few things are worth noting. The speed at which the groups move through the church is intense. If you are not right at the front and ready to walk with purpose, you might miss important moments at the start of each scene. My group, Sam’s group, moved incredibly fast. If you are not a move it or lose it type of person you may lose small details like a discovered pregnancy test or the setup for a prop.

Accessibility may also be a concern. My night did not run into any issues, but the production uses stairs and standing moments that might be challenging for anyone who uses a wheelchair or mobility aid. It is something I hope the team considers as they continue developing this format.

Finally, I want to talk about marketing. Because the production ran during Halloween, the word ‘horror’ may have worked against them. After I posted about this production, several people told me they skipped the show because they don’t like horror and had assumed this show was full of out right, blood pressure rising, terrifying moments. Although I understand why Witch Hunt claims the genre, this particular story is not what many may think of when they hear the word ‘horror’. It is not jump scares or heart pounding terror. It is suspenseful, eerie, ominous, and full of quiet dread. If Witch Hunt wants to reach a wider group, offering more clarity around the type of horror they create could help. For example, if a show includes live bugs or simulated rats for people with specific fears, that is one thing. But using horror as a broad label may keep people away who would actually love this experience.

Final Blessings

Witch Hunt Theatre is taking real risks and carving out a space that feels fresh and exciting. Her Rites was my first show with them and it impressed me at every turn. The setting inside the church was perfect. The cast delivered raw and unsettling performances. The writing was sharp and the story felt believable in a way that sticks with you. I am excited to see what they do next as they continue building their place in the New England theater scene, especially for audiences who love suspense and stories that sit under your skin long after the sermon has ended.