Pittsburgh: Project Amelia

by NoPro Newswire
NoPro Newswire
•
July 31, 2019
•
6 min read

When: Sep. 20 — Nov. 2, 2019
Where: Location TBA
Price: $50 — $70, on sale August 6
Tags: #immersivetheatre, #socialcommentary, #techculture, #accessible, 18+

Ticket Link

Get hype because one of the best immersive theatre companies in America is back with an ambitious new work.

“The world moves fast. Every day there’s a new crisis, a new gadget, a new diet, a new obligation. Slowing down doesn’t feel like an option, and the constant pressure of everyday life can be overwhelming. But, does it have to be? What if you could let go without letting anyone down? What if responsibilities weren’t yours alone?

“Aura, the brand you’ve come to know and trust, has been working on the answers to these questions and invites you to experience the solution: an intelligent product made just for you. Replace all the disparate devices that clutter your life and streamline your physical, emotional, intellectual, psychological, spiritual, and time-management needs. This is not a technology you wear or carry. This is the future of you. Project Amelia: Take Control.”

Accessibility enabled by Bricolage’s innovative Immersive Companions program.

Press Release Follows

Bricolage Production Company, Pittsburgh’s immersive theater, is partnering with software engineers at Probable Models to present Project Amelia — a next-level immersive experience — this September. Since their production of STRATA in 2012, the downtown theater company has been growing in capacity alongside regional, national, and international acclaim. With 8 more immersives under their belt since breaking into the scene 7 years ago, the company is primed for its inventive theater production that marries innovations in software with theatrical interventions to alter the relationship between participants and technology. With unique, personalized experiences in store for up to 60 audience members each night and a run longer than any prior Bricolage production, the ground-breaking piece has the potential to attract both regional and national tourism.

With a list of collaborators including Kenny Chen (Executive Director, Partnership to Advance Responsible Technology), Dr. Lorrie Cranor (CyLab Director), Eddy Man Kim (Co-Director, Computational & Tangible Interaction Design Laboratory, CMU) and several other standouts in the tech sector, Bricolage and Probable Models have teamed up with some of Pittsburgh’s leaders in the field of data and privacy to take on the topic that is becoming increasingly relevant for Pittsburghers and people throughout the country.

“It seems like every day we learn of another damaging way that data collection, social media, and technology are impacting our lives, from political campaigns to teenage depression rates. The tech train has left the station and we’re unsure where it’s going or how to stop it. The ‘fake it to make it’ culture pervading the tech sector has companies caught between their good ideas and reality of life. From Theranos to Facebook, Uber to Fyre Festival, products that at first promise to contribute to the common good are having the veil pulled back to reveal a very different story. The questions Project Amelia asks are: where is this train heading, and who is it for? How do we gather together and take back the reins — or is it too late? How do we ask better questions before we become complicit? In a city that seems to be quickly moving from Steel City to Silicon Valley, Pittsburgh is just as entrenched as the rest of the nation in these tough questions,” says Jeffrey Carpenter, Bricolage’s Artistic Director.

BOX OFFICE
Project Amelia runs September 20th — November 3rd 2019, Wednesday — Sunday evenings with a few exceptions. In order to create a more personalized experience, each performance time slot accommodates only 60 patrons at a time. Tickets range from $50 — $70 and can be purchased at bricolagePGH.org beginning August 6th, 2019 for Bricolage Adventurers and August 8th for everyone. Bricolage will distribute a limited number of tickets at no charge at 12:00pm on Friday, August 2nd via their website, over the phone, and in person at their 937 Liberty Avenue location. Free tickets are available through the Theater for All program, which is intended to remove financial barriers for those who would not otherwise be able to attend. Theater for All tickets for are first come, first served.

SHOW DESCRIPTION
The world moves fast. Every day there’s a new crisis, a new gadget, a new diet, a new obligation. Slowing down doesn’t feel like an option, and the constant pressure of everyday life can be overwhelming. But, does it have to be? What if you could let go without letting anyone down? What if responsibilities weren’t yours alone?

Aura, the brand you’ve come to know and trust, has been working on the answers to these questions and invites you to experience the solution: an intelligent product made just for you. Replace all the disparate devices that clutter your life and streamline your physical, emotional, intellectual, psychological, spiritual, and time-management needs. This is not a technology you wear or carry. This is the future of you. Project Amelia: Take Control.

ABOUT THE SHOW
Brought to you by Bricolage Production Company in partnership with Probable Models, Project Amelia is a next-level immersive theater experience that invites you to the headquarters of Aura, one of the world’s most innovative tech giants, to participate in the launch of a groundbreaking intelligence product like no other. Upon arrival you will be assessed and given the opportunity to interact with cutting edge technologies in order to make your mark on this historic event. Will the launch of Aura’s product change the course of history? Or will history be changed by your participation? The future awaits. Take control.

Project Amelia is written and conceived by Michael Skirpan, and created by Bricolage Production Company in Partnership with Probable Models.

ACCESSIBILITY
Project Amelia is wheelchair accessible. Bricolage also provides accommodations such as audio description and ASL interpretation through their Immersive Companions program. You can browse their selection of support and comfort equipment by reading their Audience Menu. Bricolage is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and welcoming to all. Immersive experiences are heavily rooted in the senses and often require movement. As a result, not all experiences are suitable for all patrons and they may need to make adjustments or plan parts of your visit in advance to best suit your needs; telling them about yourself and any concerns you have helps ensure the support you need will be available at Project Amelia. They encourage you to identify any concerns you have that may prevent you from having a comfortable experience by leaving a comment when purchasing tickets, calling their office at 412.471.0999, or emailing Fred at fred@bricolagepgh.org.

AGE RESTRICTIONS
This experience is for ages 18 and up, with no exceptions.

SUPPORT
Support for Project Amelia has been provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Henry John Simonds Foundation, the Hillman Foundation, the Charles C. and Anna Z. Burstein Memorial Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation, the Jane M. Epstine Charitable Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation, the Rita McGinley Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation, and the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

BRICOLAGE MISSION AND VISION STATEMENT
Bricolage’s mission is to immerse artists and audiences in adventurous theatrical experiences that foster connections and alter perceptions.

Bricolage envisions theater not as a passive experience, but as a vehicle for heightened involvement for artist and audience alike. Our approach encourages artists to take the creative risks necessary to create full-blooded, high-quality theatrical experiences that challenge audiences to engage in new ways, react, and express openly their opinions about our work — to have a stake in the creative discussion.

The word Bricolage means “making artful use of what is at hand.” What excites us is the connection and interaction between seemingly disparate elements, and the potential for these components to resonate as one cohesive event. We use the distinctive resources of the Pittsburgh region to create theatrical experiences that stimulate a heightened sense of involvement for the audience. “What is at hand” is the city’s changing landscape, its plentiful human and material resources, and the salient political, cultural, and ethical issues we all encounter and react to each day. By combining different artistic mediums, nourishing local talent, producing provocative work, and facilitating audience engagement, Bricolage seeks to revitalize live performance for a new era.

PROBABLE MODELS MISSION STATEMENT
Probable Models is a creative coding and ethical design studio that wants to see the technology industry move forward with a strong moral compass. Using cross-disciplinary techniques and our expertise in data, applied engineering, and ethics, we implement projects and support organizations in responsible, smart decision-making.