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AARON: A New Play About AI Art by Ryan Marcone

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Vulcan Theatre Company is seeking funds to help produced "AARON," a new play by Artistic Director Ryan Marcone, and a work of three plus years that explores the intersection between art, technology, and the human spirit.

About The Play

"AARON" delves into the story of Harold Cohen, an artist wrestling with his groundbreaking creation — AARON — and Sally Baker, a journalist whose encounter with Cohen and AARON leads her on a journey of rediscovery and confrontation. Set in the backdrop of a cluttered artist's studio in the 1970's, "AARON" explores the essence of creativity, the fear of obsolescence, and the eternal question of what it means to be truly human in an increasingly digital world.

Why This Play Now?

I began writing AARON back in 2020 during the early days of the COVID-19 shutdowns here in NYC. As theaters across the city closed, more and more theater moved to Zoom and other video platforms in a way to figure out how to continue producing an "in-person" art form in the time of isolation. This development really got me to wrestling with what the introduction of this new technology meant for theater and for art in general going forward. I felt we had rung a bell that couldn't be un-rung.

Scouring the internet led me to the real life story of Harold Cohen and his creation AARON back in the 1970's. I immediately thought that this retroactive look at technology and artificial intelligence in art was the perfect way to reflect on that same conversation today - a conversation that has only become more and more prevalent in the years since I began writing the play.

AARON examines the morality of the intermingling of technology and art, and not only poses the question of whether this is a good thing or not, but asks how we move forward now that we have rung a bell that cannot be un-rung.

Why We Need Your Support

Theater production is a costly endeavor. Your support will go towards:

  • Securing a venue for two weeks of performances in New York City.
  • Set design and construction to create Cohen’s studio, including a mock of AARON itself.
  • Costumes that reflect the play’s 1970s setting.
  • Compensation for our dedicated cast and crew.
  • Marketing and promotional materials to reach a wider audience.

About Vulcan Theatre Company

Vulcan Theatre Company is a New York City based collective focused on newness and innovation in all parts of the creative process. Founded in 2018, Vulcan has produced a number of new short play nights around NYC, as well as their first full production, an innovative take on Macbeth back in 2020 prior to COVID-19. AARON will be Vulcan's first project since taking a pandemic hiatus. For more information, feel free to visit www.vulcantheatre.com
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    Organizer

    Ryan Marcone
    Organizer
    New York, NY

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