Sep 24 — OCT 19, 2025
ABOUT THE SHOW
A NEW PLAY BY AYAD AKHTAR
DIRECTED BY RANDALL KING
Jacob McNeal is a great writer, one of our greatest, a perpetual candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature. But McNeal also has an estranged son, a new novel, old axes to grind and an unhealthy fascination with Artificial Intelligence. Pulitzer Prize-winner Ayad Akhtar’s new play is a startling and wickedly smart examination of ambition, authorship, and artificial intelligence.
Running time: 1 hour and 40 minutes, no intermission
Recommended age: 16 years and older
THE STAGE gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our McNeal producers Clayton and Sandra Feldman, and associate producers David Chamberlain, Michael Rubin and Bernadette Vergara. Season 43 is made possible through the leadership support of Robert J. Bettencourt and Swenson.
“A Cautionary tale of warped ambition.”
“A TOUR DE FORCE ! ”
“COMPELLING AND TIMELY.”
“NOTHING SHORT OF ASTOUNDING.”
“A Provocative, ripped-from-the-headlines production that confronts the messy ethics of creation.”
CAST + Creatives
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JOHNNY MORENO*
Jacob McNeal
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BRIDGETTE LORIAUX*
Francine Blake
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NICOLE TUNG*
Stephie Banic
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ANDRE AMAROTICO*
Harlan McNeal
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STORM WHITE
Natasha Brathwaite
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ABIGAIL ESFIRA CAMPBELL*
Sahra Grewal
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CELESTE LAGRANGE
Dipti
RANDALL KING Director
GIULIO PERRONE Scenic Design
ABHIRAJ S. MUHAR Costume Design
MAURICE VERCOUTURE Lighting Design
STEVE SCHOENBECK Sound Design
ERIK SCANLON Projection Design
BILL VUJEVICH Scenic Paint
WILL SPRINGHORN JR.* Fight / Intimacy Director
AARON GIN Master Electrcian
ILIANA KARBOWSKI* Stage Manager
*Members of Actors’ Equity Association
EXPLORE SEASON 2025/26
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OPENS SEPTEMBER 24 | TICKETS NOW ON SALE
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THE STAGE is growing our amazing volunteer team to help with ushering and concessions for upcoming shows. If you’d like to join us, fill out our volunteer sign-up form—your support helps us continue to thrive as an award-winning Bay Area theater!
If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at boxoffice@thestage.org.
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Press Contact: Jonathan White; PR Consultant
jonathanwhitepr@gmail.com
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THE STAGE accepts general headshot/resume/video submissions at any time via the following form: