ABOUT THE PLAY
"What they saw, finally, was that . . . after the world comes to an end, life goes on."
Utopia is a brand new play from Charles L. Mee, Obie Award winning playwright of Big Love and sculpting pioneer of American experimental theater. Commissioned by Cutting Ball Theater, Utopia envisions the world as it could be through the eyes of a 9-year-old girl, people-watching in a cafe, munching on croissants, and wrestling with the question: “how do you make a life?”
Performed by nine of the Bay Area’s finest actors, accented by fantastical designs, animated artworks, and choreographed dance, Mee’s newest play transforms the simplest moments of a mundane day into a surreal and colorful ride through fantasy, self-expression, connection, and community.
A poetic and genre-defying dreamscape that audiences can stream from home, Utopia delivers the spectacle that you’ve been missing.
COLLABORATION
Utopia is multidisciplinary: not just a virtual play, but a dance exhibition and a gallery show too. To bring dance and visual art to Utopia, Cutting Ball Theater has collaborated with fellow San Francisco creatives at RAWdance and Creativity Explored.
RAWdance is an award-winning contemporary dance company known for transforming theaters and public spaces through a mix of performance, curation, and collaboration. San Francisco Chronicle has described RAWdance as “witty, whip-smart, and beautiful to watch!” Utopia features original choreography by RAWdance Co-Artistic Director Katerina Wong, performed by a team of eight dancers. To learn more about our collaborators at RAWdance > Click here
Creativity Explored provides people with developmental disabilities the opportunity to express themselves through the creation of visual art. Creativity Explored supports its artists with studio space, instruction and mentorship, quality art materials, and professional opportunities to exhibit their art, promoting their work as an increasingly important contribution to the contemporary art world. Utopia features visual artwork by 15 Creativity Explored studio artists, including animations. To learn more about our collaborators at Creativity Explored > Click here
HOW TO STREAM
Utopia will be available to stream on demand through Vimeo, the world's leading professional video platform. Vimeo On Demand makes it easy to experience our Virtual World Premiere from home — just like renting a movie!
Utopia will be available to stream on October 16 and streaming access will remain on sale through November 15. Once you purchase streaming access, you’ll have a 7-day window to watch Utopia. You’ll be able to view Utopia on your computer, your tablet, or even your television through an Apple TV, Amazon Fire, or Roku device.
To experience Utopia, you will need a Vimeo account. The good news: Vimeo accounts are quick and easy to set-up, and totally free!
Have any questions about streaming from home? Feel free to email our Box Office at boxoffice@cuttingball.com or call us at 415-525-1205.
ACCESSIBILITY
To ensure Deaf and Blind audiences may experience this Virtual World Premiere, Cutting Ball Theater is offering Utopia with access options: a version with captions, a version with ASL interpretation, and a version with audio description. To purchase streaming access for Utopia with access services, please select from the following options:
Access services for Utopia have been made possible by the California Arts Council and the National Arts and Disability Center. Access services are offered in partnership with Gravity Access Services and with consultation from Urban Jazz Dance Company.
ASL Vlog produced by Urban Jazz Dance Company Access Services
Full accessibility description of video available here.
If purchase price presents a barrier to you experiencing Utopia, we invite anyone to use discount code TENOFF to remove $10 from your streaming on demand purchase price.
CUTTING BALL COMMISSIONS
Utopia is the second original play to premiere under Cutting Ball Theater’s new Cutting Ball Commissions program. Through Cutting Ball Commissions, we hire playwrights to craft brand new works — from seeds of inspiration to full productions — for our stage. We’re committed to home-growing and producing one full length, never-before-seen play every year.
CREATIVE TEAM
Charles L. Mee
Playwright
Ariel Craft
Director
Maya Herbsman
Associate Director
Katerina Wong
Choreographer
CAST & Crew
Joel Chapman
Bob
Chloe Fong
Tilly
Regina Morones
Evie
Gabriel Montoya
Herbert
Sharon Shao
Jennifer
Chris Steele
Edmund
Michelle Talgarow
Edna
Jasmine Milan Williams
Harriet
Don Wood
Waiter
dance ensemble
Michaela Cruze
Dancer
Jhia Jackson
Dancer
Kelly Del Rosario
Dancer
Nick Wagner
Dancer
Juliann Witt
Dancer
Katerina Wong
Choreographer and Dancer
Stacey Yuen
Dancer
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
This activity was supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency, and the National Arts and Disability Center at the University of California Los Angeles.
