Utopian Hotline.

UTOPIAN HOTLINE. A Telephone Hotline. A Vinyl Record. A Performance. Is anyone out there? is anyone listening? Are we alone? In 1977, NASA launched the twin Voyager spacecrafts to try and answer these questions. Aboard both is The Golden Record, an artifact intended to communicate who and what we are. After 43 years and over 13 billion miles, this proverbial message in a bottle is the farthest human-made object from earth. If we were to send another message into the distant future, what message would we send? To answer this, Theater Mitu created a public telephone hotline (646-694-8050) prompting people to leave messages to the future. These voicemails along with messages from astronauts, astronomers, futurists, spiritual communities, and middle school students make up the source material for Utopian Hotline, which can be experienced through live performances at MITU580 and an accompanying vinyl record of original music. As we re-emerge from this unprecedented year, Utopian Hotline creates a moment of community. Audiences of 12 will gather, not in the darkness of a traditional theater, but underneath a 30ft video installation, on a pink carpet, around a communal table, to re-imagine our shared future. Performers, tethered to audience members by headphones, will musicalize and transmit these collected messages. Together, they will acknowledge coming into community as a radical action. An action that has consistently shaped this planet’s future. An action that reaffirms that someone is listening, that we are, in fact, not alone. Created by Theater Mitu and directed by Rubén Polendo. Developed in Partnership with SETI Institute, Arizona State University’s Interplanetary Initiative, and Brooklyn Independent Middle School. Performances: September 3 – 26, 2021. Tuesday–Friday at 7pm and 8pm. Saturdays at 3pm, 4pm, 7pm, and 8pm. Sundays at 3pm, 4pm, and 7pm. Ticketing: - Refunds are available up to 1 day before the performance. Eventbrite's fees are nonrefundable. - Audience members may transfer their tickets to a different date at no additional cost. - Audience members are asked to arrive at least 15min before the scheduled start time on their ticket. The Box Office and Lobby will open 30min prior to the performance. - Walk up tickets are subject to availability and are first come, first served. - This is a limited capacity in-person event, only 12 people will be admitted per performance. There is no late seating. Performance Expectations: - This is a non-narrative performance installation, which is experienced entirely on headphones. Think of it as a puzzle and the missing piece is you. The headphones act as a tether, connecting you to the performers. - This is an immersive installation. You will be invited to remove your shoes upon entrance to the exhibit and choose a spot to sit on a comfortable pink carpet. We are happy to support any additional accessibility needs. - Each performance is approximately 45min in duration with multiple performances occurring on each day (please see the schedule for exact timings). - There is no intermission. - A gender-neutral bathroom will be available before and after each performance, upon the opening of the lobby. - The use of strobe/flashing lights, loud audio, provocative language, and references to real mental/physical violence are used in this performance. COVID Safety Protocols: - Proof of vaccination will be required for all audience members to enter the venue and attend a performance and may include: NYC COVID Safe App, Excelsior Pass, vaccination card, or photo of vaccination card and valid ID. - Masks for all audience members will be required. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided to you by the Box Office upon arrival. - Audience members are encouraged to practice social distancing while inside MITU580. - Anyone exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19, or who has been exposed to someone with COVID-19 within 2 weeks prior to their arrival, are asked to please stay home. - Anyone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival will be asked to leave in order to keep our community safe. - All headsets are sanitized for each performance. Theater Mitu reserves the right to revise these safety requirements at any time towards creating a safe environment for our community. All performers and staff of Theater Mitu are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Accessibility: Theater Mitu will work with patrons who require additional accessibility measures to access this performance. Please email info@theatermitu.org to inquire about potential accessibility arrangements.