This fall, audiences in New York and Los Angeles will be invited to experience the life and legacy of designer Lee Alexander McQueen like never before. Through a dual-city project nearly a decade in the making, House of McQueen and Provocateur will honor the visionary designer with two deeply immersive experiences, one theatrical, one interactive, that together create a multidimensional portrait of a fashion icon who changed the game and left far too soon.
The journey will begin in New York City, where House of McQueen will open at the Mansion at Hudson Yards on September 9. The off-Broadway play has been written by award-winning playwright Darrah Cloud and directed by Sam Helfrich. Set against a dynamic, high-production backdrop of floor-to-ceiling LED panels and rare archival footage, the 90-minute performance will explore Mr. McQueen’s rise from a young, unknown designer to the founder of one of the most groundbreaking fashion houses in the world.
Audiences will be taken through Mr. McQueen’s personal and professional struggles, his complicated relationship with fame, the loss of his mentor Isabella Blow, and his deep connection to his family, while never losing sight of the creative fire that made him who he was.
The play will open for previews starting August 19 and will run for four months. Showtimes are scheduled for 7:00 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday, with two shows on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and Sunday performances at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Tickets will range from $45 to $150, with the venue located at 508 West 37th Street.
Just a few weeks later, on October 1, Provocateur will open in Los Angeles. This 11-room, multi-sensory experience will take over a 12,000-square-foot space in Downtown LA, allowing visitors to freely explore a series of environments that reflect different chapters of Mr. McQueen’s life, from childhood memories and formative experiences to career-defining runway moments.
The experience will lean heavily into technology, using holography, projection mapping, and immersive sound and lighting design to create a space that feels both intimate and surreal. While it is built on archival accuracy, Provocateur is anything but conventional. Among the highlights are a recreation of the legendary Plato’s Atlantis runway show, as well as a transportive visit to Mythos Bar, a dream-like setting that reflects the emotional spaces Mr. McQueen often escaped into.
Visitors can expect to spend about 60 minutes moving through the installation. General admission tickets will be priced at $35, while a VIP option at $55 will include an extended experience featuring virtual reality goggles. In that segment, guests will receive a deeply personal message from Mr. McQueen himself, an emotional ending designed to leave a lasting impact.
Gary James McQueen, Creative Director and nephew of the late designer, said, “Lee’s creativity and passion have had a profound impact on my life and continue to inspire me every day. It’s been a privilege to collaborate with Rick and his team to bring that spirit to life in these new shows, and to help ensure my uncle’s legacy continues to inspire future generations.”
The entire project is being led by Executive Producer Rick Lazes and Gary James McQueen, who together have spent nearly 10 years developing the two-part tribute. The team includes engineers, designers, and archivists who have worked together to ensure that both House of McQueen and Provocateur are rooted in authenticity while pushing creative boundaries.
Alongside the performances, both spaces will also showcase original Alexander McQueen pieces, dresses that have been carefully preserved in private collections and brought into the public eye for this occasion.
“Although faced with immense challenges throughout the entirety of his life, Lee re-wrote the rulebook of fashion through his ability to push boundaries and stand tall in the face of rejection. He offered a space for creatives to explore their passions, and it is an incredible honor to be able to tell his story in such an authentic, immersive way,” said Mr. Lazes, Executive Producer.
Together, House of McQueen and Provocateur are more than tributes, they are opportunities to feel what McQueen felt, to see what he saw, and to understand the man behind the legacy. After their U.S. runs, both experiences are expected to travel internationally, continuing to share Lee Alexander McQueen’s story with audiences around the world.
