Data by Matthew Libby

Starring Karan Brar, Stephen Cefalu, Jr., Isabel Van Natta and Rob Yang

Scenic Design by Marsha Ginsberg

Costume Design by Beth Goldenberg

Lighting Design by Amith Chandrashaker

Sound Design by Mikaal Sulaiman

Original Composition by Dan Kluger

Production Stage Manager: Elisa Guthertz

Dramaturg: Otis Ramsey-Zoe

All photos taken by T. Charles Erickson for the 2024 Arena Stage production

PRESS:

“Arena Stage’s show DATA is a digital-age thriller that merges Ancient Greek philosophy with the freewheeling spirit of Silicon Valley. Gripping and electric, DATA is a prime example of why they call theater drama.

Illustrative and multidimensional, playwright Matthew Libby and director Margot Bordelon go beyond making a simple statement about the intrusiveness of technology. Instead, they pursue a far trickier theme of how supportive we want our technology to be and whether it should be making decisions for us.”

     -      Jackson Malmgren, Broadway World 

“Director Margot Bordelon keeps the pace of the show crisp, with a sure sense of when to vary the tempo. In many scenes, actors deliver lines at a fast clip, in keeping with the speed at which tech work moves. When, as in those two key scenes, characters have important things to say and are listening to one another, the tempo slows appropriately.”

     -      Bob Ashby, DC Theater Arts

“Highly recommended. Matthew Libby’s dystopian thriller Data at Arena Stage is edgy, relevant and thought-provoking. The acting is pitch perfect and I couldn’t be more impressed by this political thriller loaded with the kind of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat.” 

     -      Jordan Wright, Whisk and Quill

“Highlighting the isolation common in our supposedly connected modern society, the 90-minute one act explores modern issues of data manipulation, corporate ambition, and personal responsibility with gripping intensity, making it a compelling production.

Directed by Margot Bordelon, the tense corporate drama is significantly enhanced by Dan Kluger’s electronic dance music score, Mikaal Sulaiman’s soul-penetrating sound, Beth Goldenberg’s costumes, and, especially, Amith Chandrashaker’s lighting, which enhances the drama’s atmosphere and tension. Marsha Ginsberg’s minimalist set uses a stark white metal container aesthetic; this, combined with Chandrashaker’s fluorescent lighting, creates a sleek yet sterile tech atmosphere.”

     -      Barbara Papendorp, Stage and Cinema

“The cast and creatives for Data do superlative work on this production. Director Margot Bordelon coordinates a crisp, focused production. Marsha Ginsberg’s set design gives us a generic, almost-antiseptic, sparsely-furnished space, reminiscent of a virtual reality setting that represents a variety of locales including what the playbill refers to as ‘a break room, and a conference room…. And elsewhere.’”

     -      Paul Webb, Theatre-Goer’s Thoughts

“Data delivers strong performances and manages to balance complex tech jargon with accessible, thought-provoking dialogue, making its themes engaging for audiences beyond the tech sphere. The play invites everyone in IT and business to reflect on the ethical boundaries we should individually uphold and sparks crucial discussions about the future of AI.”

     -      Teniola Ayoola, MD Theatre Guide