BroadwayRadio: Stagecraft – Matthew Libby on “Data”
Episode Date: February 3, 2026
Host: Jan Simpson
Guest: Matthew Libby (Playwright)
Venue: Lucille Lortel Theater (play running through March 29th, 2026)

Episode Overview

This Stagecraft episode features playwright Matthew Libby, whose new play “Data” is a timely thriller set within the high-tech world of Silicon Valley. Host Jan Simpson explores with Libby the play’s complex themes, autobiographical inspirations, and the process of bringing nuanced social and ethical dilemmas onto the stage.

Main Discussion Points and Insights

1. Pronunciation and Synopsis of “Data”

• Pronunciation: The team settled on “day-tuh.”

  “We decided in the room that we could go either way, but we just needed to all say the same thing… I go with data.” — Matthew Libby [01:30]

• Brief Summary:
  “Data” follows Manish, a young engineer at Athena Technologies, who moves from a peripheral team to the company’s central, secretive project. When he discovers the project’s true nature, he’s faced with complex ethical decisions, leading to dramatic twists.

  “The play is an ethical drama about what this young man does once he learns about what the project at the core of the company is. And then, you know, twists and turns from there.” — Matthew Libby [01:57]

2. Personal and Societal Origins of the Play

• Genesis: Libby began writing in 2018, inspired by his own post-Stanford reflections, experiences at Silicon Valley job fairs, his background in cognitive science, and the Cambridge Analytica and Palantir controversies.

  “I came of age in Silicon Valley in this ecosystem where computer science is not just the best thing, but it’s the only thing.” — Matthew Libby [03:16]

• Central Question: What ethical conflicts do young, idealistic tech workers face—especially when their work’s impact becomes clear?

3. Cognitive Science and the Human Condition (05:24)

• Definition: An interdisciplinary field linking computer science, psychology, and philosophy—i.e., “the study of the relationship between minds and machines.”

  “What does it mean to be innately human? …What are the things about being human that can't be quantified?” — Matthew Libby [05:47]

• Artistic Relevance: These questions drive both the play’s plot and its philosophical concerns.

4. Writing Journey and Playwright Motivation (06:30)

• Despite initial interest in psychology or creative writing, Libby’s curiosity led him to cognitive science. He used his real-life interests for dramatic storytelling.

  “The only thing more important than knowing how to write is having stuff to write about…” — Matthew Libby [07:21]

5. Research and Keeping Up with Technology (08:03)

• Libby follows AI advancements closely and consults tech insider friends for authenticity on workplace details.

  “A lot of the details around [the play] have had to be updated over the years… I’m pretty consistent with keeping up with AI research.” — Matthew Libby [08:18]

6. Translating Technological Jargon for Audiences (10:19)

• Balancing technical authenticity with accessibility posed creative challenges.

  “I really was very excited by the idea of putting real corporate doublespeak and real tech jargon… but… anything that is important for the audience to track, you get.” — Matthew Libby [10:47]

7. Intersectional Themes: Class, Race, Sexism, and Immigration (11:45)

• The play broadens to include the realities of workplace bias, identity, and the “real impact” of tech work—countering the supposedly utopian workplace culture.

  "I was very interested in how to show the characters trying to be both members of the team, the collective, the company, and also just really trying to zero in on the things that are making it impossible for them to be their full selves." — Matthew Libby [12:05]

8. The Ping Pong Metaphor (14:49)

• Symbolism: The recurring ping pong game mirrors the dual nature of Silicon Valley’s fun façade vs. serious stakes, evolving from light-hearted to fraught as the story progresses.

  “The first image I had of the play was two young people playing ping pong having an incredibly complex moral discussion… the symbol of fun and games has become much more dangerous and much more personal.” — Matthew Libby [15:16]

• Stagecraft Detail: The ping pong is real, adding dramatic tension and metaphorical resonance.

9. Athena Technologies & a Thematic Trilogy (17:13)

• Libby has used the fictional “Athena Technologies” in multiple plays exploring different eras and forms of AI:
  • “The Machine” (generative AI, past)
  • “Data” (predictive/analytical AI, present)
  • “Sisters” (sentient AI, future)

  “I have this neat little trilogy of plays that’s my kind of AI Athena trilogy. And maybe that’s a good place to leave it…” — Matthew Libby [17:31]

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “What would I have been like if I had gotten that job at Palantir? ...How would I be different?” — Matthew Libby [04:15]
• “What does it mean to be innately human in a technological world?” — Matthew Libby [05:47]
• “The experience of being inside [Silicon Valley] is… different [than it’s presented].” — Matthew Libby [12:05]
• “So far we have not had a ball go into the audience…” — Matthew Libby, on live ping pong during performances [16:32]
• “I hope people get to see Data at the Lucille Lortel. And I want to thank you for taking the time to talk to us about it.” — Jan Simpson [18:32]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:16] — Play title pronunciation and summary
• [02:44] — Genesis of the play and personal background
• [05:47] — Cognitive science explained; connection to playwriting
• [08:18] — Research and updating the play’s technical accuracy
• [10:47] — Challenges of making the play accessible to non-tech audiences
• [12:05] — Inclusion of class, race, sexism, and immigration themes
• [15:16] — Ping pong as a storytelling and symbolic device
• [17:31] — Athena Technologies as a recurring universe in Libby’s works

Conclusion

Matthew Libby’s “Data” is both a tense ethical thriller and a thoughtful social commentary, reflecting the lived realities of young tech workers in a world of rapid technological and societal change. The episode offers listeners an insider’s look into the creative and philosophical underpinnings of the play, as well as the challenges and delights of writing about our tech-driven era.