DATA

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Matthew Libby’s riveting DATA is drawn from tomorrow’s headlines – or is this frightening story depicting events that are already happening? As directed by Tyne Rafaeli, this techno-thriller become more and more scary as we begin to realize the dangers of AI and computer algorithms to be used for immigration and citizenship rules as the story moves to its inevitable conclusion. Silicon Valley has a lot to answer for and this play demonstrates what may be in store for us very soon.

Maneesh, a genius computer scientist, recently out of college, has been working for Athena, a leading software company, in the Bay area for one month where his older brother worked five years before. He runs into Riley, a former classmate, who had only been an acquaintance in the past. She is surprised he is working for UX (User Experience) rather than the more prestigious Data Analytics as she remembers his brilliant honors thesis which developed a predictive algorithm, a rare event model, which predicted how well a baseball player might perform any given year based on their previous statistics. Being sought after by headhunters, investment firms, lobbying groups and even an oil company, Maneesh realized the implications of his algorithm and has decided to distance himself from it and such future work.

Riley gets Maneesh an interview with Alex Chen, the director of Data Analytics, and a hero to the other employees. He convinces Maneesh that he is being wasted in UX and ought to join Data Analytics, following in his late brother’s footsteps. When Maneesh joins, he is immediately given the ethical dilemma he was trying to avoid by working in UX: DA is trying to win the government bid for a contract with the Department of Homeland Security concerning Citizenship and Immigration services. Their mandate is to rebuild and reform the visa application process and ensure the quality of acceptable applicants. Currently the process is taking years and they want to speed up the decision making with a software program that will do the work more quickly and efficiently.

As the deadline is in little over a month, time is of the essence. However, Maneesh immediately sees the ethical problem: this proposed software may be used to rethink immigrants who have already been granted citizenship as well as decide what makes an applicant a “positive and productive addition to America and its values.” And then Alex asks him to hand over his predictive algorithm which already has the capability of making such decisions. And what about people like Maneesh’s parents from India and Alex’s parents from Singapore? Will they fit the new algorithm and be acceptable citizens? And what about Riley’s real reason for getting Maneesh into DA which is to help her blow the whistle on this top secret project?

Under Rafaeli’s direction with her talented cast of four, the tension rises continually as the pieces are revealed one by one. As Maneesh, Karan Brar becomes more and more agitated as he realizes what he has gotten into. He doesn’t want to disappoint his parents nor does he want to jeopardize their future in America. Justin H. Min’s Alex remains cool as a cucumber throughout even when faced with dissention among the ranks. Sophia Lillis as Riley is on the verge of a nervous breakdown as she can’t get anyone in management to listen to her concerns while she sees our democratic values being chipped away more and more. As Maneesh’s extroverted colleague from UX who admires his genius, Brandon Flynn as Jonah who knows his own limitations is ebullient, animated, brash – and ambitious.

Using a high-tech unit set of a white box, designer Marsha Ginsberg is cleverly able to change the environment from the break room, to spare and minimally designed offices, to a corridor in the basement. All are decorated by the latest in attractive and colorful high-tech furniture. This is complemented by Amith Chandrashaker’s lighting which creates each of the new environments differently. The costumes by Enver Chakartash perfectly capture the casual look of nerds and computer geeks. Daniel Kluger’s sound design and original music is completely in sync with the play’s tension.

Not only does Matthew Libby’s DATA work as a very scary techno-thriller, it also has great political and social ramifications as part of the current ICE crackdown on immigrants. As such it is one of the most important plays of our time, a cautionary tale that should be seen by all Americans. Tyne Rafaeli’s direction and first-rate cast make this a haunting experience. Few modern plays can make all these claims.

Data (through March 29, 2026)

Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher Street, between Bleecker and Hudson Streets, in Manhattan

For tickets, visit http://www.todaytix.com/nyc/shows/45765/data-the-play

Running time: 110 minutes without an intermission