David Byrne’s “Theater of the mind” to Challenge Perceptions in Chicago
Immersive production, co-created by the Talking Heads frontman, blends neuroscience, art, and storytelling for a unique theatrical experience opening next spring.
Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne unveiled a preview of his upcoming immersive theatrical production, “Theater of the Mind,” on Tuesday in downtown Chicago. the Oscar, Grammy, Tony, and Golden Globe-winning artist, currently performing in the city as part of his “Who is the Sky” tour, demonstrated the core concept behind the show: the fallibility of human perception.
“Theater of the Mind,” co-created with writer Mala Gaonkar, is designed as a walkthrough experience housed on the first floor of a Chicago office building, specifically the Reid Murdoch Building. The production, modeled after a 2022 debut in Denver, will be a featured event in the Goodman Theatre’s centennial season, continuing artistic director Susan Booth’s commitment to high-profile collaborations.
During the press event, Byrne illustrated the show’s central theme by playing two identical piano notes and asking attendees to identify which was higher in pitch. The resulting confusion, he explained, highlights how easily our brains can be tricked. “‘Theater of the Mind’ is intended to be an experience that will lead audiences to question themselves and the world around them,” Byrne stated. “You experience the unr
“David” – a guide dressed in clothing mirroring Byrne’s childhood attire.
Notably, Byrne himself will not appear in the show. “But the guides are all called David. None of them look anything like me, but they are dressed the way I was dressed when I was 2 years old,” Byrne clarified. While the show incorporates autobiographical elements, the majority of the narrative is fictional. Despite the presence of a disco ball and music in one room, Byrne confirmed that “Theater of the Mind” is not a musical and will not feature new music from the artist.
A unique element of the experience involves the audience receiving new identities upon entry.”When the audience comes in, they get new identities,” Scoville said. “they choose a name, and the name is different from their own given name. And what I like about this concept is, with the guides being called David, and the audience having their own names as well, it sort of puts the guide and the audience in the same game. They’re all sort of living in the same dream world that has similar rules.”
Goodman Theatre Embraces Innovation for Centennial
Susan Booth, the Goodman Theatre’s artistic director, expressed her enthusiasm for bringing “Theater of the Mind” to Chicago as part of the theatre’s 100-year anniversary party. “If there’s something that in 100 years we’ve never done, 100 is the time to do it,” she said. Booth envisions the production as a challenge to conventional theatrical norms. “We have this conventional notion of how theater works. You come in, you sit in the purple velvet seats, then there’s people performing for you. What if we turned that on its head and said, ‘This, too is theater?'”
Booth hopes that productions like “Theater of the Mind” will position the Goodman Theatre at the forefront of artistic innovation. “Our art form is fully dependent on the stream our audience is swimming in right now,” she explained. “And if we’re over hear behind our pillars saying this is what we think you should care about, then we’re not paying attention. So I think of 100 years as a wonderful gesture that this city has supported us for this long. But it’s also a huge provocation to get uncomfortable.”
A rendering of “Theater of the mind,” opening next spring at the Reid Murdoch Building, 333 N. LaSalle St. in downtown Chicago.
“Theater of the Mind” is slated to open next spring, promising a thought-provoking and immersive experience that challenges audiences to reconsider the nature of reality and the foundations of their own perceptions.
