Unveiling the Spectacular Final Fantasy 14 Theater Troupe

As a long-running franchise and MMO, Final Fantasy 14 attracts a diverse range of players. While some are drawn to the game's fantastical outfits and others to the farming simulator that is Island Sanctuary, there are those who play for the endgame raiding and hardcore Ultimate content. For the newly formed theater troupe, Curtain Call, however, the game's greatest strength lies in its ability to serve as a digital stage for performances.

In an interview with Game Rant, Curtain Call's leadership, ChiliFarmer, Tromad, and Ahro'zi, explained what sets Final Fantasy 14 apart as a platform for the fine arts and how their troupe stands out from other performing groups in the game's expansive community. The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Q: Let's begin with introductions. Can you tell us your role in Curtain Call and the name you go by?

ChiliFarmer: Sure, I'm ChiliFarmer. I serve as the artistic director, but you can call me Chili.

Tromad: My name is Tromad, but you can call me Tro. I handle guest relations and front house, making sure that the logistics of bards and guests roaming around are kept in check. And if necessary, I'm not kidding, I use force.

Ahro’zi, the choreographer and technical director, introduced himself and explained his role in the performance.

When asked how they got into Final Fantasy 14, Chili shared that her love for Kingdom Hearts exposed her to the franchise, and her interest in MMOs led her to try out the game in 2019. Tro, on the other hand, had been playing MMOs since Everquest and had only tried Final Fantasy games with 9 and 10, but had a bad experience with 11. However, he gave Final Fantasy 14 a chance and has been playing it as his primary game ever since.

Ahro used to play Guild Wars 2 a lot, but eventually burned out from the grind. After completing 100% of the map, they were left feeling unsatisfied and began searching for a new game. That's when they discovered Shadowbringers and were immediately drawn to its cool trailer and the fact that someone had created a Fan Cam for their OC doing Red Mage actions. Ahro was easily convinced to give it a try.

Curtain Call was born out of Chili's long-standing desire to start a theater. They had previously attempted to start a similar project called the Factory Theatre Company, but it never got off the ground. However, when Ahro approached them about starting a theater and securing spaces, Chili jumped at the opportunity. Together, they wrote up their vision for the theater and got to work. Tro jokingly claims to have been kidnapped by Ahro to join the team.

Curtain Call, a new theater project in Final Fantasy 14, is focused entirely on actual theatrical performing. The project is the brainchild of Ahro and Chili, who both share a passion for creating new works and plays. However, the problem with producing new works in Final Fantasy 14 is that they are not typically in the public domain, making it legally complicated and expensive to obtain permission for streaming or performance. Despite this, Curtain Call is committed to exposing more people to modern plays and pushing the boundaries of theatrical performance in the Final Fantasy 14 community.

Our focus is on creating our own shows that capture the essence of modern theater in the setting of Final Fantasy 14. The game's main scenario quests remind me of television, and that's what our playwrights today write. We want to showcase family dramas, comedies, and other plays in a more modern setting, rather than sticking to the classics like Shakespeare. Although we are not averse to exploring those as well, our primary goal is to develop new plays and encourage aspiring writers to come forward.

As for why Final Fantasy 14 is an ideal medium for performing arts, Ahro points out that it is incredibly accessible to anyone. Starting at level one, anyone can use the set of emotes to practice and get on stage. Unlike other games, Final Fantasy 14 is flexible and allows people to approach it from different walks of life. The macro system is also great for timing dialogue with actions, and the expansive housing system with its lighting and subdivision feature creates a unique community aspect. It's an experience that is unparalleled online and sets Final Fantasy 14 apart from other games like Roblox.

Regarding the housing system in Final Fantasy 14, it's a bit of a mixed bag for players. However, obtaining property was made easier with the expansion of the new datacenters, particularly Dynamis. Large plots have been sitting for months, providing an opportunity for players to grab them. Since there's data center travel, anyone on the North American data centers can easily visit. Prior to this expansion, obtaining property would have been much more difficult. Chili's server is Dynamis Maduin, Goblet Ward 7, Plot 43.

One limitation in Final Fantasy 14 is the flickering issue outdoors, where people pop in and out. To avoid this, indoor housing with a good usher system can limit the number of people entering. Another limitation is leveling jobs, which can be time-consuming if you want to use a high-level skill but have a level 15 character. Additionally, the item slot limit in housing can be a painful restriction, especially when trying to create a detailed venue. Organizing a large group of people in one area can also become challenging and affect the final product. In the upcoming 7.0 expansion, Curtain Call hopes for a better preview system that allows previewing multiple housing items at once, enabling users to create unique designs by combining various items and colors.

It's absolutely incredible that the cap for item storage might be increasing. This is a monumental development.

Ahro suggests the possibility of indoor training dummies, which would undoubtedly be a fantastic addition.

Chili agrees, stating that indoor training would be a game-changer.

Ahro envisions a future where everyone can utilize their skills indoors.

Tro, on the other hand, hopes for the ability to change the layout of the interior. Instead of being limited to a single staircase in the center, it would be great to have a variety of internal designs to choose from. Tro is content with the game so far, except for the pesky pillars that seem to be in the way.

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Chili hopes to see Meracydia in Final Fantasy 14's 7.0 update. She finds it interesting, especially with the unresolved storylines that she wants to see connected. She also loves visiting other worlds and exploring how their worlds work on a systematic level. Chili believes that Final Fantasy 14 does an excellent job in connecting things to real places. Additionally, she hopes that Island Sanctuary will have housing eventually, which could act as a housing fix for players who are experiencing housing stress.

On the other hand, Tro wants to see technology in Final Fantasy 14. He wishes to see the society transition from a medieval-looking to something similar to Final Fantasy 7. Tro is excited about the idea of having cars and technology in his venue. He believes that the inclusion of technology would add an exciting new layer to the game's universe.

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"I'm really interested in learning more about the lore surrounding Bozja, but I understand that might not be a priority this year. Personally, I would love to see some further development for the Blue Mage and other limited jobs. I remember when Endwalker was first teased, and we were all expecting a Beastmaster job to be announced. While that never happened, it would still be really cool to see. On a completely different note, I would love to see blitzball added to the Gold Saucer. It's a silly request, but it would be so much fun to play. I know there's already a roleplaying blitzball league, so there seems to be a clear desire for it. The blitzball rally with the macro performance really caught my attention and got me interested in macro dancing. I would love to have the opportunity to participate in something like that."

Chili has some interesting ideas about improving the Final Fantasy gaming experience. While Ahro suggests buying uniforms of different Blitzball teams at Gold Saucer, Chili thinks it would be great to have a whip-wielding character like Quistis from Final Fantasy 8. When asked about Final Fantasy 14's performing arts scene, Chili mentions attending various in-game events such as Lalalfels of the Caribbean and shows by A Stage Reborn, as well as watching macro dance teams perform at festivals. Chili also points out the numerous server-wide events organized by the community, making for a diverse range of entertainment options within the game.

I have worked in the theater industry since I graduated from college, specializing in sound design, and backstage work. However, when I joined Final Fantasy 14, I realized that there was an opportunity to bring my skills and experience to the theatrical scene in the game. While there was already some incredible theater being performed, I felt that there was a gap that needed to be filled. The majority of the shows being performed were of a specific genre, such as classic plays from the public domain, including Shakespeare. While these performances were well executed, I wanted to introduce players to a wider variety of theater, beyond just the classics.

I was inspired by the potential to expose players to a new form of theater, and I was excited to be a part of it. My goal was to showcase a variety of different forms of theater, and to help people understand that there was more to theater than just Shakespeare. As I began to attend more performances, I became more involved in the community of performers, and started to help various groups with their logistical challenges. My experience has made me a valuable resource for the community, and I take pride in being able to connect different groups with the resources they need to put on a successful show.

While I have limited experience with traditional theater outside of Final Fantasy 14, my involvement in the game has allowed me to grow my knowledge and appreciation for the performing arts. I have found a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about performing, and I am proud to be a part of it. My hope is to continue to help grow the performing arts scene within the game, and to introduce even more players to the many different forms of theater that exist.

Ahro has a lot of experience in event organizing, both for his own organization and for other groups. He has worked with the Eorzean Event Committee and the Eorzea Aquarium, among others. Thanks to this work, he has met many people and learned about their interests and talents. He believes that if everyone worked together, they could create some amazing things. Ahro often ends up playing the role of coordinator between different groups, something that comes naturally to him.

During his first workshop, Chili received some great feedback on his play. He was able to hear what people liked and didn't like about the characters, plot, and themes. This feedback will be invaluable as he works on the second draft of the script.

Chili revealed that the first show will take place in Ishgard, but avoided giving away too much to avoid spoilers. While there is no roleplay element to the show itself, visitors are welcome to engage in roleplaying activities in the theater and surrounding areas. Chili also mentioned that they are not currently focused on developing this aspect of the experience.