Westport Country Playhouse continues its acclaimed Script in Hand series with The Machine, a provocative new play by Matthew Libby that dives into the collision between art and artificial intelligence. The reading takes place Monday, November 3, at 7 p.m., directed by Camden Gonzales.
A finalist for the 2021 Blue Ink Playwriting Festival and the 2019 Princess Grace Award in Playwriting, The Machinefollows Laney Chamberlain, a once-celebrated poet and professor paralyzed by writer’s block. When a tech CEO approaches her with an unusual proposition—to create an AI capable of writing poetry in her voice—Laney’s life is upended. The play blends humor, philosophy, and tension as it examines what it truly means to create art in an age when machines can mimic human imagination.
“This script takes us on a wild, thrilling ride that is smart, witty, and full of surprises,” said Mark Shanahan, Westport Country Playhouse artistic director. “It’s a modern thriller and a morality tale that keeps us on the edge of our seats while asking provocative questions about art, technology, and human connection. Most interestingly, it makes us think about the devices we’ve come to accept in our lives and how they quietly shape our creativity, choices, and relationships.”
Set in the late 1990s at a prestigious university, The Machine explores Laney’s struggle with grief, identity, and authenticity as she wrestles with the consequences of her technological creation.
The reading features an accomplished cast, including:
- Gibson Frazier as Roy (Unsane, Frances Ha, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel);
- Maggie Lacey as Laney (Appropriate at Old Globe; What the Constitution Means to Me at Cleveland Playhouse; HBO Max’s Julia);
- Stacie Morgain Lewis as Chelsea (Wicked, Urinetown, Sunday in the Park with George);
- Kevin Shiu as Max (The King and I national tour; Miss Saigon; Disney’s Aladdin);
- and Hanako Stepper reading stage directions.
Playwright Matthew Libby has earned national acclaim for his thoughtful, technology-infused storytelling. His works include Data (Arena Stage), which earned a Helen Hayes nomination for Best New Play, and Sisters (Northern Stage). A Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellow and three-time Princess Grace Award finalist, Libby has developed projects for Hulu, Lionsgate/eOne, and Westward Productions. He holds degrees in cognitive science and creative writing from Stanford University and an MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he now teaches.
Director Camden Gonzales, known for her work as associate choreographer on Moulin Rouge! The Musical worldwide, returns to the Playhouse after directing How the World Began earlier this year.
Stage management is by Tyler Danhaus (Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Scene Partners, Russian Troll Farm).
Tickets for The Machine are $30, with an approximate runtime of one hour and 50 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit westportplayhouse.org.
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