Vantage Theatre presents the San Diego premiere of Artery, an interactive theatrical maze created by the San Francisco avant-garde troupe Antenna, in Belmont Park, Mission Beach, opening May 26.

Artery allows each audience member to become the main character in a bizarre tale of crime and romance. As one makes one's way through a 15-room theatrical funhouse wearing Antenna's trademark headsets, one is instructed to "steal the diamonds, climb through windows, peruse secret diaries and fly to the Riviera."

The interactive experience (called "walkmanology") was devised by Chris Hardman, artistic director of Antenna. Hardman has been experimenting with non-traditional theatre since 1980. His specialty is placing the audience in the middle of the action.

Antenna has been producing site-specific events and spectacles around the Bay area for over 20 years. The company's use of electronic media, oversized puppets, sculptures and interview-driven sound designs have earned it many awards, residencies at the Smithsonian Institution's Experimental Gallery, the Spoleto USA Festival, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Performing Garage in New York. Antenna has also performed at the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival and has toured widely abroad.

Artery is located in the building just south of the roller coaster in Belmont Park, which will be open every day from 2-10 PM during the summer months. Admission is $5. For tickets and information call (619) 262-6162. -- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent