MONEY
Photos: Michael Cooper Photographic Shoots www.coopershoots.com
MONEY is an epic new Canadian play in 2 Acts, starring an ensemble of our country’s top talents.
It tells the story of how money, power and technology are shaping the future of human civilization. A futuristic melodrama about love, loss, trust and betrayal.
The play is in the final stages of development, and we are working towards a world premiere in 2027.
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
MONEY follows the lives and fortunes of 8 characters, as their stories intersect over 40 years. Each character holds a different perspective on money and wealth, and how to survive and prosper in the 21st century.
The 1st Act of MONEY is set in 2008, with flashbacks to 1988 and 1998. The 8 characters are introduced amidst the global financial crisis, and a sequence of money-motivated choices leads to the downfall of the rock band C(r)ASH.
The 2nd Act takes place some time after 2028. Three generations of the Weisz family come face to face with the future, and the confluence of power, technology and money. Can humans collectively find an equitable, sustainable path forward? The operatic finale of MONEY points to multiple possible outcomes.
WHAT’S THE VISION?
Though naturalistic in script and performance, MONEY is stylized in design and execution. 8 performers play 8 main characters, interacting on a chessboard stage grid. Each character has a digital avatar and corresponding graphics that shift from one Act to another. In the 1st, “financial wealth” accumulates based on the characters’ choices. In the 2nd, “emotional investment” accumulates based on the audience’s choices.
At crucial points in MONEY, audiences are prompted with a choice: “Remorse OR Rant”, “Give the letter OR Keep it”, etc. Multiple story outcomes all lead to a 2028 Canadian federal election in which an AI candidate runs against a human opponent.
The vision for MONEY is to create a large-scale new artistic work that speaks to the most important issues of today, and brings the work of Toronto talent around the world.
WHY NOW?
We’re at an inflection point in history, confronted with world-altering choices on how we navigate the coming wave of political, ecological and technological change. Behind our choices - behind the wave itself - is money. We all feel strongly about money, though our perspectives differ greatly.
Theatre is one of the few places left where a collective experience can be shared with a diverse group of people; our emotions stir, our thinking shifts, our perspectives broaden. The choices in MONEY highlight our human agency. In the midst of growing apathy and cynicism, the future is ours to decide, and our shared stories matter.
We are currently seeking additional funding to take us to the world premiere in 2027.
Please contact Rick Miller here, @RickMillerActor, or use the Contact button above.
Download the pitch deck below.