Excavating the Rising Star
a semi-interactive documentary theater experience
Prepare to embark on a thrilling adventure with “Excavating The Rising Star,” an original interactive documentary play from Infinite Variety Productions!
This unique production invites audiences to dive deep into the heart of a groundbreaking 21-day archaeological excavation in South Africa in 2013.
Join IVP, in partnership with the Bronx Music Heritage Center for this compelling theatrical experience that not only uncovers the secrets of our past but also sparks a vital dialogue about the future we are crafting together.
In 2013 and 2018, nine women in the field of paleoanthropology – dubbed the “Underground Astronauts” – were selected to excavate potential hominid fossils deep within the Dinaledi Cave System at the Cradle of Humankind outside Johannesburg, South Africa. To the surprise of the entire world, the excavation yielded 15 full skeletons of a new hominid species, Homo naledi, rewriting the human evolutionary timeline as we know it.
A work of re-imagined documentary theater, “Excavating the Rising Star” draws from the oral histories of the “Astronauts,” as compiled by playwright Ash Singer, and sets them against the backdrop of a fictional AI-powered museum. Audiences will be guided through the “exhibit” by a contemporary archaeologist and Aude, the museum’s fledgling AI technology, witnessing the archaeologists stories through imaginative storytelling, vibrant dance, and the joyous spirit of exploration. As a semi-interactive experience, audiences will have the freedom to either sit back and absorb the unfolding drama or fully immerse themselves in the interactive elements of the performance.
“Excavating the Rising Star” offers a dynamic, creative theatrical experience that encourages audiences to engage thoughtfully with the ethical dilemmas posed by excavation and the complex issues surrounding progress in our modern world. Be part of a conversation that examines our shared humanity and the legacies we choose to embrace. To learn more about the project’s history, please click HERE.
Excavating the Rising Star
Written + Directed by Ash Singer
Assistant Directed, Choreographed + Creative Produced by Marie Davis
Stage Managed + Technically Consulted by Hadley Todoran
Sound Designed by Malèna Montaño
Featuring Lisa LaGrande, Karin Hoelzl, Rebecca Jimenez, Esther Ayomide Akinsanya, Alexandria Thomas, Vianca C. Perez Betancourt + Riley McMillan
Produced by Kate Szekely
