We were tasked to create a show that would evoke the feeling of New Orleans in the 1960's to match the setting of New Bordeaux from the game. Another big part of MAFIA is also the soundtrack, which features original recordings from the era.
To start the show, we had a 16 piece jazz band lead a 50 piece choir, processional style, through the house playing When the Saints Go Marching In to game play footage that had been cut for the opening. Once onstage, the choir joined our all star band, The Hellcat Saints, to a brilliant rendition of You Can't Always Get What You Want. The band consisted of Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Kushner of Velvet Revolver, Joey C of Queens of the Stone Age, Scott Shriner of Weezer and Matt Rodhe of The Voice and American Idol.
The opening set up the feel of the game beautifully, and Hangar 13's President, Haden Blackman, gave an energetic presentation that was amazingly framed in the MAFIA III world. We closed our show with the Hellcat Saints performing Paint It Black to another game play footage montage... we certainly left the audience wanting more!
MAFIA III Arena Show for 2k - GameStop Conference
Client: 2K, Inc. Production Company: Eventmakers, Guy Genis Executive Producer Date: September, 2016 Responsibilities: Creative Director, Show Director, Script Writer Talent: Chester Bennington, Dave Navarro, Dave Kushner, Scott Shriner, Matt Rhode, Joey C