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A Silicon Valley Techno-Thriller

Data

  • Credits

    By Matthew Libby
    Directed by Margot Bordelon

  • Location

    Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle

  • Running Time

    Approx. 90 minutes without an intermission

  • Advisories

    This production contains flashing lights, haze, and herbal cigarettes.

A fast-paced techno-thriller unveiling the dark secrets lurking within Silicon Valley 

Matthew Libby's intriguingly suspenseful and relevant new play Data takes you behind the locked doors of Silicon Valley. Maneesh is a brilliant entry-level programmer at Athena Technologies, a data-mining firm. Content to work in the low-stress environment of User Experience, he has a crisis of conscience when he is offered a transfer to the more-central Data Analytics team, and learns the true nature of Athena's highly controversial and secretive work. Torn between idealism and survival, Maneesh is forced to come to terms with his unique American identity, all while learning the extent to which Athena is willing to go to hide its secrets.

View the Data program

View the Data learning guide

Support for Data is provided by Andrew R. Ammerman.

Cast

KARAN BRAR

Maneesh

STEPHEN CEFALU, JR.

Jonah

ISABEL VAN NATTA

Riley

ROB YANG

Alex

Creative

MATTHEW LIBBY

Playwright

MARGOT BORDELON

Director

MARSHA GINSBERG

Set Designer

BETH GOLDENBERG

Costume Designer

AMITH CHANDRASHAKER

Lighting Designer

MIKAAL SULAIMAN

Sound Designer

DAN KLUGER

Composer

OTIS RAMSEY-ZÖE

Dramaturg

TAYLOR WILLIAMS, CSA

New York Casting

ELISA GUTHERTZ

Stage Manager

LAUREN PEKEL

Assistant Stage Manager

Videos

Production Photos

Karan Brar (Maneesh) in "Data", photo by T Charles Erickson Photography.
Rob Yang (Alex) in "Data", photo by T Charles Erickson Photography.
Karan Brar (Maneesh) and Stephen Cefalu, Jr. (Jonah) in "Data", photo by T Charles Erickson Photography.
Isabel Van Natta (Riley) and Karan Brar (Maneesh) in "Data", photo by T Charles Erickson Photography.
Karan Brar (Maneesh) and Rob Yang (Alex) and in "Data", photo by T Charles Erickson Photography.

DATA In The News

WASHINGTON CITY PAPER

Tech Thriller Data Mines Real Suspense From a Horrifically Realistic Premise

NBC4 WASHINGTON

Silicon Valley suspense play ‘Data' premieres at DC's Arena Stage

DC THEATER ARTS

Matthew Libby on the dark underbelly of AI and his new play ‘Data’ at Arena Stage

METRO WEEKLY

From ‘Jessie’ to Leading Man: The Evolution of Karan Brar

FOX 5 DC

Karan Brar brings Silicon Valley drama "Data" to Arena Stage

WASHINGTON BLADE

Bi TV star pivots to theater in intense thriller ‘Data’

THE WASHINGTON POST

“examines the fallible human beings behind the algorithms”

STAGE AND CINEMA

"a highly relevant corporate thriller that makes the Enron financial scandal look tame"

DC THEATER ARTS

“draws the audience into the play’s theme of the dehumanizing power of our electronic environment”

A THEATRE GOER'S THOUGHTS

"morality play of sorts, a cautionary tale perhaps, and a very timely meditation on current events"

WTOP

Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley >> Karan Brar

MD THEATRE GUIDE

“depiction of how technology, surveillance, and immigration policy intersect resonates deeply with modern social and political issues”

BROADWAYWORLD

“delves heavily into whether we truly know ourselves and how much we know about others”

PLAYBILL

Casting Complete for Matthew Libby's Data at Arena Stage

THEATERMANIA

Cast and Creative Team Announced for Matthew Libby's Data at Arena Stage

BROADWAYWORLD

Arena Stage Announces Cast And Creative Team For New Thriller DATA

THEATRELY

Casting Announced For Matthew Libby’s DATA At Arena Stage

THE NEW YORK TIMES

15 Shows to See on Stages Around the U.S. This Fall

Special Performance Notes

Early Curtains
Thursday, December 5, at 7 p.m.

Southwest Nights
Friday, November 1, at 7 p.m.
Sunday, November 10, at 2 p.m.
Friday, December 13, at 8 p.m.

Audio-Described Performance
Saturday, November 30, at 2 p.m.

ASL-Interpreted Performance
Saturday, December 14, at 8 p.m.

Mask-Required Performances
Saturday, November 16, at 2 p.m.
Tuesday, December 10, at 7:30 p.m.

Post-Show Conversations
Thursday, November 14, at 8 p.m.
Thursday, November 21, at 12 p.m
Tuesday, November 26, at 12 p.m
Wednesday, November 27, at 12 p.m
Tuesday, December 3, at 7:30 p.m.

Industry Night
Sunday, November 3, at 7:30 p.m
Celebrate the start of the #DCTheatre season with a pre-show mixer with fellow DC-area theater staff and artists before the 7:30 p.m. performance.

Pride Night
Wednesday, November 6, at 7:30 p.m
Join us for a lively pre-show happy hour for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, family, and friends.

HBCU/Divine 9 Night
Tuesday, December 3, at 7:30 p.m
Rep your colors! Calling all of our Divine 9 members and HBCU students, staff, and alumni to come out to the show that will have everyone talking!