Jump to content

Data (play)

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Data
2026 Off-Broadway production playbill
Original languageEnglish
Written byMatthew Libby
CharactersManeesh
Jonah
Riley
Alex
GenreDrama
Premiere
DateMay 6, 2021
PlaceAlliance Theatre

Data is a 2021 dramatic one-act play by American playwright Matthew Libby in his playwriting debut. The play follows a young programmer who discovers his algorithms are used for secret surveillance. The play premiered in 2021 in a digital production at Alliance Theatre in Atlanta,[1] before premiering Off-Broadway in 2026 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.[2]

Plot

[edit]

The play follows Maneesh, a brilliant entry-level programmer at a Silicon Valley software development firm. He is offered the chance to transfer to the data analytics team where the company's secret purposes are revealed to be surveillance for deportations.[3][4][5]

Production history

[edit]

2021 Atlanta digital premiere

[edit]

The play was first presented digitally through the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia in 2021, running from May 6 through June 6, 2021 after an extension due to popular demand.[6] The production premiered digitally and wasd irected by Susan V. Booth, starring Cheech Manohar as Maneesh, Jake Berne as Jonah, Claire Latham as Riley and Stephen Hu as Alex.[7][8][9] The New York Times praised the production, calling it "better than television" and lauding the digital adaptation as "continued innovation and growth of the form."[10]

2024 Washington D.C. production

[edit]

The play had its live-stage debut in 2024 at Arena Stage in Washington D.C. in 2024, running from October 31 to December 15, 2024. Margot Bordelon served as director, with Karan Brar as Maneesh, Stephen Cefalu Jr. as Jonah, Isabel Van Natta as Riley and Rob Yang as Alex.[11] The production was positively received, with Stage and Cinema praising the show's "gripping intensity" and calling it "compelling."[12]

2026 Off-Broadway production

[edit]

Next, a new production of the play was announced to premiere Off-Broadway in 2026 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre for a limited 11-week run. Directed by Tyne Rafaeli, Brar reprised his role as Maneesh, joined by Brandon Flynn as Jonah, Sophia Lillis as Riley and Justin H. Min as Alex.[13] The production began previews on January 9, 2026, opening on January 25 and running through March 29 of the same year.[14]

The production received mixed to positive reviews, with The New York Times calling it a "darkly on-point dramatic mirror of present-day events",[15] though Exteunt criticized it for its "choices that betray a distrust of the audience."[16] Nonetheless, for the play, Libby was nominated for the 2026 Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Award.[17]

Cast and characters

[edit]
Character Atlanta 2021[18] Washington D.C. 2024[19] Off-Broadway 2026[20]
Maneesh Cheech Manohar Karan Brar
Jonah Jake Berne Stephen Cefalu Jr. Brandon Flynn
Riley Claire Latham Isabel Van Natta Sophia Lillis
Alex Stephen Hu Rob Yang Justin H. Min

Awards and nominations

[edit]

2024 Washington D.C. Production

[edit]
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
202 Helen Hayes Award Outstanding New Play or Musical Nominated [21]

2026 Off-Broadway production

[edit]
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2026 Outer Critics Circle Award John Gassner Award Matthew Libby Nominated [22][23][24]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "DATA". Alliance Theatre. February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  2. ^ Masseron, Meg (October 23, 2025). "Matthew Libby's 'Data' Sets New York Stage Premiere Off-Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  3. ^ Green, Jesse (January 26, 2026). "Review: In 'Data,' a Corporate Thriller About the Price of Progress". The New York Times. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  4. ^ "DATA". Alliance Theatre. February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  5. ^ "DATA Off-Broadway Vault Production Profile". Playbill. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  6. ^ Staff, ArtsATL (May 27, 2021). "Atlanta Fringe Fest, Alliance "DATA" extends, 2 authors and the ASO". ArtsATL. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  7. ^ "DATA". Alliance Theatre. February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  8. ^ Janich, Kathy (May 6, 2021). "Q&A: Playwright Matthew Libby on "Data," his Alliance/Kendeda world premiere". ArtsATL. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  9. ^ Janich, Kathy (May 6, 2021). "Q&A: Playwright Matthew Libby on "Data," his Alliance/Kendeda world premiere". ArtsATL. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  10. ^ Collins-Hughes, Laura (May 21, 2021). "5 Virtual Theater Works That Clear a Path Toward Continued Innovation". The New York Times. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  11. ^ "DATA". Arena Stage. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  12. ^ Michael, Gregory (November 9, 2024). "Regional Review: DATA (Arena Stage)". Stage and Cinema. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  13. ^ Masseron, Meg (October 23, 2025). "Matthew Libby's 'Data' Sets New York Stage Premiere Off-Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  14. ^ "DATA Off-Broadway Vault Production Profile". Playbill. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  15. ^ Green, Jesse (January 26, 2026). "Review: In 'Data,' a Corporate Thriller About the Price of Progress". The New York Times. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  16. ^ Cohn, David (February 2, 2026). "Review: DATA at the Lucille Lortel Theatre". Exeunt NYC. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  17. ^ "Schmigadoon!, Ragtime Win Big at 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  18. ^ "DATA". Alliance Theatre. February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  19. ^ "DATA". Arena Stage. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  20. ^ Masseron, Meg (October 23, 2025). "Matthew Libby's 'Data' Sets New York Stage Premiere Off-Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  21. ^ "2025 Helen Hayes Award Nominees" (PDF). Theatre Washington. February 10, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  22. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Award 2026 Nominations". New York Theater. April 21, 2026. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  23. ^ "Announcing the 2026 Outer Critics Circle winners: Full list". Broadway News. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  24. ^ "Schmigadoon!, Ragtime Win Big at 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Data_(play)&oldid=1360009133"