D&D Live Pop-Up at Irvine Denny’s Previews Immersive Quest Touring Production

Players gathered at a Denny’s in Irvine Saturday evening for a ticketed pop-up billed as "DUNGEONS & DRAGONS LIVE," led by a local organizer identified only as Dungeon Master Matt and attended by small community groups from Orange County, California. The event listing described a guided in-person D&D session but the posted text was truncated and did not include ticket price, session times, or exact Denny’s address.

That grassroots pop-up comes amid the national rollout of a licensed production variably billed as "Dungeons & Dragons: The Immersive Quest" or "The Immersive Experience," a Hasbro-licensed project produced in partnership with Vibrant Studios and described by NoProscenium as "an official Wizards of the Coast sanctioned experience." The Immersive Quest first premiered outside Toronto in Mississauga in December 2024, and Hasbro executive Matt Proulx said the experience invites U.S. fans "to step inside the story, become the heroes of their own quest and see the magic of D&D come alive like never before."

Producers plan a sizable U.S. footprint: Dallas Culturemap reports Plano, Texas as the second U.S. city with a 16,000+ square-foot multi-room installation at 2712 N Central Expy, Plano, TX 75074. Dallas Culturemap says the Plano engagement will remain "approximately four months" with pre-sale tickets reported to go on sale September 2 and general on-sale starting September 3; ticket prices are reported to start at $35. NoProscenium listed Mississauga pricing in Canadian dollars at $39 to $80 CAD and a run "Until March 16, 2025," while Secretdallas promoted discounts of 30% off general admission and 35% off VIP access for U.S. stops.

The Immersive Quest is marketed as a roughly 60-minute guided quest followed by unlimited time at a themed marketplace. Secretdallas and Dndimmersivequest detail a multi-scene flow: choose a class and skill level on arrival - Rogue, Druid, Fighter, or Wizard - begin at the Yawning Portal Tavern, explore a mysterious dungeon facing iconic creatures such as Ropers and Mimics before confronting a dragon, and then compare earned experience points at a bustling Waterdeep market with themed food and drink like Owlbear cupcakes and Beholder lollipops. Secretdallas also notes three difficulty levels, kids under four enter free, and groups can book a post-quest D&D table for up to six with a complimentary drink.

Critical reception has been mixed at inaugural stops. NoProscenium reviewer Katrina Lat called the production "two separate experiences: a polished, actor-led introduction featuring beautifully designed sets, impactful lighting cues and sound design, and a wonderfully performed cast of characters… followed by a series of themed games that fell flat," and urged further polish for the gamified portion. Promotional-site guest reviews quoted on the official pages include Anna S.: "Great experience! I am not a D&D player, but I accompanied my son, who loves the game, and I fully enjoyed it too," and William J.: "This was phenomenal. The production value, the mini games and acting were amazing for any fan of D&D!"

Sources disagree on some run dates: NoProscenium lists the Mississauga engagement "Until March 16, 2025," while Dallas Culturemap reports the Toronto-area run "just wrapped up at the end of July" with no year specified. Verification remains outstanding for the exact Mississauga end date, the full ticketing calendar for the U.S. tour, and whether local pop-ups such as the Irvine Denny’s event were independently organized by Dungeon Master Matt or formally affiliated with Hasbro and Vibrant Studios. The Dungeons & Dragons touring production now has both grassroots pop-ups and multi-room theatrical stops to reconcile, with Plano pegged as the next major U.S. showcase.