The community of national and local readers for the 45th Bay Area Playwrights Festival in 2022 enthusiastically recommends THE LOST BALLAD OF OUR MECHANICAL ANCESTOR as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We were deeply moved by the investigation of human relationship with artificial intelligence and the writer’s perspective on machinations of revolution. We were compelled by this play’s adaptation of myth into futuristic and contemporary science-fiction. We hope this play is widely read, finds dedicated collaborators, and moves swiftly towards production #BAPF2022.

This is so funny, original, and highly theatrical. The ways Madison explores communication and language theatrically between machines, machines and humans, and humans would make for dynamic and fresh moments onstage. The allegorical connection to Prometheus and sci fi genre tropes raise the stakes in this piece to heightened dimensions. At the same time all of the characters, human and AI, are rendered with complexity and nuance so that, like all great sci fi, this feels like a VERY human and very contemporary exploration of class, personhood, capitalism, and socialism. Hilarious, thought-provoking, and worthy of many productions!

Would love to see the personification of these machines on stage. The script offers many moments to create some awesome physicality and music in the different languages. My favorites were Thermostat and Security.