Excavating the Rising Star
an immersive, interactive theater experience that bridges the gap between STEM and the arts
Underground Astronauts, AI, and archaeology collide to unearth the past—and question the future.
photos by George Redner
Excavating the Rising Star takes audiences on a transformative journey into the 2013 and 2018 South African excavations that uncovered a new hominid species. Inside a fictional AI-powered museum that doesn’t always function as intended, the real oral histories of six underground astronauts come to life—women who risked everything to unearth fossils that challenged both the evolutionary timeline and what it means to be human.
Following a successful, sold-out premiere at the Bronx Music Hall in December 2024, we are preparing for an expanded Manhattan run in 2025 and seeking investment for a national and international tour. This production transforms non-traditional theater spaces—museums, universities, and hybrid indoor-outdoor venues—into dynamic storytelling environments, making history come alive for audiences worldwide.