Phasmagorica Brings Experimental Séance Residency to Santa Fe

Thirteen guests sit in a chamber shaped by sacred geometry, holding haunted artifacts while a thirteen-speaker Dolby Atmos system hums. This is Phasmagorica, an immersive paranormal experiment created by composer and magician BC Smith, which officially moved its flagship residence from Los Angeles to the high desert of New Mexico this August.

Money Talk·August 26, 2026·reads: 252

The installation functions less as a traditional haunted house and more as a modern-day esoteric salon. Eschewing jump scares and theatrical actors, the experience relies on the attendees themselves to serve as the medium. Participants begin the evening with attunement exercises before entering a purpose-built space designed to evoke the spirit of the late 1800s American spiritualist movement.

BC Smith, an Academy of Magical Arts member known for his film scores, views the project as a construction of conditions rather than a staged show. By removing himself from the center of the act, he allows the guests to navigate a sequence guided by paramusicology and historical correspondence. Following a series of sold-out runs in Los Angeles venues, the Santa Fe residency aims to capitalize on the city's unique history and spiritual reputation. The experience, which costs between $108 and $125, operates on a limited schedule tied to lunar and historical cycles, with seatings strictly capped at thirteen people to maintain the intimacy of the experiment.