Apple TV+ hosted a Severance’ event
“Severance” fans stepped into the world of Lumon Industries on April 5, as Apple TV+ transformed the iconic Bell Works building in Holmdel, New Jersey, into an eerie, immersive corporate retreat.
The one-day activation, dubbed the Outdoor Retreat Team-Building Occurrence (ORTBO), celebrated the show’s third season renewal. Fans were surprised with a star-studded panel, a live music performance, elaborate set recreations, and ominously cheerful team-building activities straight out of the show’s playbook.
Stephen Colbert hosted the live panel conversation, joined by Dan Erickson and executive producer/director Ben Stiller, along with the show’s cast: Adam Scott (Mark), Britt Lower (Helly R./Helena), John Turturro (Irving), Zach Cherry (Dylan), Dichen Lachman (Ms. Casey), Tramell Tillman (Milchick), Sarah Bock (Miss Huang), Jen Tullock (Devon Scout-Hale), Michael Chernus (Ricken Hale), Gwendoline Christie (Lorne), and Olafur Darri Olafsson (Drummond).
Stephen Colbert hosted the ORTBO Activation and FYC panel. Image credit: Apple
Before the discussion, Emmy-winning composer Theodore Shapiro performed the series’ haunting theme live. During his performance, Apple TV+ unveiled a full-size exhibit of Lumon’s mysterious Mammalians Nurturable department, with Christie remaining in character as Lorne for the goated reveal.
The experience blurred the line between fiction and reality. Guests were greeted by Miss Huang, played in character by Sarah Bock, and received official blue Lumon access cards as they entered. Inside, they encountered a massive illuminated Kier wall, ambient jazz, the show’s elevator bank, and themed food offerings like gourmet Belgian waffles and melon bars.
“Severance” took over Bell Works for the “Severance” ORTBO Activation and FYC panel. Image credit: Apple
A screening of the season two finale added to the tension.
In Lumon’s underground world, fans explored accurate recreations of Mark’s cubicle, the Macrodata Refinement floor, and the break room, along with scattered office relics like Helly R.’s desk. Attendees could even record personal messages to their innies, echoing the show.
A dark take on work-life balance
Severance follows Mark Scout, an employee at Lumon Industries who has undergone a surgical procedure that divides his work and personal memories. The dystopian concept pitched as a radical approach to work-life balance, has captivated audiences with its haunting themes and mysteries.
Season two deepens the danger, as Mark and his colleagues begin to uncover the psychological and ethical cost of the severance barrier.
The series has earned widespread critical acclaim. It received 14 Emmy nominations for its first season, including Outstanding Drama Series, Directing, Lead Actor, and Writing.
The show also won for Outstanding Music Composition and Main Title Design, and also took home two Writers Guild Awards and nominations from the Screen Actors Guild, Producers Guild, and Directors Guild.
The cast of “Severance.” Image credit: Apple
Severance is created, written, and executive produced by Dan Erickson. Ben Stiller returns to direct five episodes in season three.
Additional executive producers include John Lesher, Jackie Cohn, Mark Friedman, Beau Willimon, Jordan Tappis, Caroline Baron, Richard Schwartz, Nicholas Weinstock, and directors Uta Briesewitz, Sam Donovan, and Jessica Lee Gagne. The studio is Fifth Season.
Both seasons of Severance are now streaming globally on Apple TV+. The service is available for $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial and three free months with the purchase of a new Apple device.
