October 25-27
Marianne Weems is the artistic director of the New York-based cross-media company The Builders Association. Their new production, just in time for the election, ATLAS DRUGGED (Tools for Tomorrow) is an analysis of both the current moment, in which AI-generated “evidence” influences much of what we think and feel, and also a speculation about a near future where candidates themselves are as engineered as their messages. The audience uses their smart devices to help “tune” the candidate, navigate political messaging, and compete for clout in a game that determines the end of the show. The production was supported in part by the Arts Research Institute at UCSC.
ABOUT THE WORK
Just in time for the election, ATLAS DRUGGED (Tools for Tomorrow) is a playful analysis of both the current moment, in which AI-generated “evidence” influences much of what we think and feel, and also a speculation about a near future where candidates themselves are as engineered as their messages. We witness Silicon Valley’s creation of an AI-inflected candidate based on the free-market, alt-right teachings of Ayn Rand and we tune our candidate to our audience, engineering and testing new campaigning strategies and multiple strains of political “messaging.”
In this latest mind-bender from The Builders Association the audience uses their smart devices to help “tune” the candidate, navigate political messaging, and compete for clout in a game that determines the end of the show.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
The Builders Association is an NYC-based, OBIE-winning crossmedia performance company in its 30th year. Founded by artistic director Marianne Weems, the company creates original productions that examine the impact of media on various cultures and communities. The Builders’ work has appeared at over 80 venues across the globe. In New York, they have been presented at BAM, Lincoln Center, St. Ann’s Warehouse, The Kitchen, New York Theater Workshop, the Whitney Museum, the Guggenheim Museum, NYU Skirball, and more.
From large-scale installations to intimate character-driven performances, the company’s work has addressed issues such as outsourcing and corporate colonialism in Bangalore, India (ALLADEEN), dataveillance (SUPER VISION), and the global financial crisis developed with victims of home foreclosure (HOUSE/DIVIDED). Their hit ELEMENTS OF OZ (2016-2019) is a celebration of queer culture and American escapism using a custom-made AR app; their most recent work, I AGREE TO THE TERMS (2022) sheds light on the ‘microworkers’ who shape our online experiences and make pennies-per-click in a vast, unregulated industry.
ATLAS DRUGGED (Tools for Tomorrow) is supported in part by Mitu’s Artists-At-Home program.
CREATIVE CREDITS
Director Marianne Weems
Writer/Dramaturg James Gibbs
Video Design Austin Switser
Sound Design Dan Dobson
Lighting by Jennifer Tipton and Allen Hahn
Data Analytics and Interaction Design Lawrence Shea
Set and Costume Design Andreea Mincic
Technical Director and Production Manager Jack Daniel Woods
Assistant Director Kate Purdum
Media Associate David Pym
Creative Developer Will Rinkoff
Stage Manager and Sound Associate Erin Gray
Assistant Scenic Design Andrew Machovec
Production Assistant Jasmine Richards
Performed by Moe Angelos (The Candidate) and Tanya Selvaratnam (Emcee, Engineer)
FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Unibeauty and her Wicked Daughters
Fri May 19, 7:30 p.m.
Sat May 20, 7:30 p.m.
Sun May 21, 3:00 p.m.
Thu May 25, 7:30 p.m.
Fri May 26, 7:30 p.m.
Sat May 27, 7:30 p.m.
Sun May 28, 3:00 p.m.
Tickets