One fan translated her love for the show, Severance, into her birthday. Jay-Ann Lopez brought her family and friends into the world of Lumon Industries as the Season 2 finale approached.
Her friends and family arrived dressed as characters from Severance, fully embracing the eerie corporate atmosphere.
“Welcome, refiners!” Lopez wrote, inviting fellow fans of the show into her carefully constructed Lumon experience.
They participated in the “music dance experience,” enjoyed meticulously recreated props, and took part in activities that mirrored the surreal world of the show.
Lopez shared her party on TikTok, where it garnered nearly one million views.
She and her partner worked diligently to execute every detail, from virtual invitations to welcome packets reminiscent of the show’s corporate culture.
“I love a good piece of TV. Severance, for me, is just one of the best shows that’s out right now in general in terms of the writing, cinematography, the way the story develops, the acting and cast,” Lopez told People.
“I made a video for the invites, which was an audio communication allegedly from Lumon, inviting people to the party and showing them the vibe,” Lopez recalled.
Besides the “music dance experience” selection menu, the event included the highly sought-after egg bar. Her friend, Latasha Mercer, even dressed as the charismatic and unsettling Mr. Milchick, a character played by Tramell Tillman.
A week before the celebration, Lopez decided she wanted to “geek out” with a Severance-themed party.
“I appreciate the people behind the scenes who are making the show, the visuals, the graphics and the color palette. With a show like Severance, I like to not just watch the show, I like to experience the making of the show as well. It is amazing what they do to create such an immersive world.”
As she planned, Lopez found that some details were easier to replicate since many were based on office supplies.
She ensured that her apartment mimicked Lumon’s unsettling yet pristine aesthetic. From the signature Lumon blue color palette to the smallest details of vending machine food, she left nothing to chance.
While recreating the Wellness Center and Miss Casey’s therapy sessions was impractical, Lopez improvised with wellness cards featuring humorous facts and inside jokes about her friends.
She also prepared food items inspired by the show, including waffles, eggs, and snacks, all repackaged in highly designed Lumon-branded wrapping.
Lopez scoured Reddit and other online communities for inspiration and sourcing tips, finding everything from office supplies to branded stickers. She collaborated with a local sticker shop in Los Angeles to create Lumon logo transfers, which she used to label cups, boxes, and accessories to enhance the illusion of a real Lumon office.
Lopez included an approved activity roster in her Lumon Welcome Packet, which also had a “standardized merriment agenda” and an assessment about Lopez herself—all designed in Canva.
She also included a custom-made map for a mini-game in which guests searched for the missing character Petey, a callback to Season 1 of the show, among other interesting games.
Her post went so viral, even drawing the cast members’ attention. Adam Scott and Patricia Arquette reshared her viral video, and Tillman, the actor behind Mr. Milchick, left a comment on Lopez’s Instagram post, fully embracing his character’s corporate jargon.
Tillman wrote, “Well done, refiners. What an auspicious jubilee. May this new journey around the sun bring new betterment, high achievements, and pure frivolity. Happy birthday and Praise Kier!”
Meanwhile, Lopez said she just enjoyed the process of doing it herself and had this advice for anyone hoping to throw a similarly themed birthday party.
“Lean into a theme that you enjoy, because that’s where your creativity comes from, rather than just doing something because you saw someone else do it. It doesn’t have to be a Severance party. It could be anything with a strong lore you enjoy and can pull from. Find something that has bespoke elements.”
Lopez added, “If there’s anything I want people to take from this, it’s to have fun. I think the social climate, the political climate, everyone’s kind of exhausted. That’s why I leaned into something that would allow me to take a week to craft the experience. I want to disconnect from the world and craft something with my hands off the computer and the phone and just have fun.”
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