The End of Empire

by Peter B. Sonenstein

The End of Empire follows the CEO of the world's largest social media platform as he and his executives, over the course of a single week, navigate ethical challenges posed by competitors, politicians, and each other. The play is an ambitious tale that takes the audience from the dawn of mathematical numbers to the contemporary challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence. The End of Empire was a semifinalist for...

The End of Empire follows the CEO of the world's largest social media platform as he and his executives, over the course of a single week, navigate ethical challenges posed by competitors, politicians, and each other. The play is an ambitious tale that takes the audience from the dawn of mathematical numbers to the contemporary challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence. The End of Empire was a semifinalist for the 2024 National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, the winner of the 2023 Artists Award for Drama at the Guilford Performing Arts Festival and received a multimedia staged reading at the festival in September, 2023.

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The End of Empire

Character Information

Jamaal Warner, Junior Algorithm Engineer, male, 22-25
Elsa Kim, Of Counsel, female, 32-36
Edgar Botkin, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, male, 30-35
Mina Silverman, Chief Operating Officer, female, 45-50
Marty Klein, Vice President of Global Public Policy, female, 47-52
Raj Patel, Chief Technology Officer, male, 35-40
Senator Kimble, Senior Senator from California, female, 65-70

**Doubled Characters**
Al-Ktwarizmi, the 9th-century mathematician
Noor, Dev Ops Manager for Africa & the Middle East
Farida, Client Manager for Africa & the Middle East
Charles Babbage, 19th-century inventor
Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, 19th-century mathematician
Alan Turing, 20th-century mathematician
John von Neumann, 20th-century mathematician
Tim, from Apple, 20th-century CEO
Senator #1
Senator #2

**Character Doubling**
RAJ also plays Al-Khwarizmi, Charles Babbage, Tim from Apple, and Senator #1
ELSA also plays Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, and Senator #2
JAMAAL also plays Alan Turing
SENATOR KIMBLE also plays Farida
MARTY also plays John von Neumann and Noor
  • Jamaal Warner
    Junior Algorithm Engineer. JAMAAL also plays Alan Turing.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
  • Elsa Kim
    Of Counsel. ELSA also plays Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, and Senator #2
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Edgar Botkin
    Chief Executive Officer & Founder.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Mina Silverman
    Chief Operating Officer.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Marty Klein
    Vice President of Global Public Policy. MARTY also plays John von Neumann and Noor.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Raj Patel
    Chief Technology Officer. RAJ also plays Al-Khwarizmi, Charles Babbage, Tim from Apple, and Senator #1.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Senator Kimble
    Senior Senator from California. SENATOR KIMBLE also plays Farida.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary

Development History

  • Reading, Guilford GreenStage Festival - Guilford, CT, 2023
  • Commission, Guilford GreenStage Festival - Guilford, CT, 2022

Awards

  • Artists Award for Drama
    Guilford GreenStage Festival - Guilford, CT
    Winner
    2022