top of page

The End of Empire

Play Type

Actors Required

Runing time

Full Length

7

90 minutes

Awards / Recognition

2024 Semi-Finalist - National Playwrights Conference, Eugene O'Neill Theater Center

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


Development History

2023 - Reading - Guilford GreenStage Festival - Guilford, CT - click here for details

2022 - Commission - Guilford GreenStage Festival - Guilford, CT

Synopsis

The End of Empire is a drama/comedy that explores the tensions between technology, history, and human behavior. The play follows two interwoven storylines. In the present, Edgar, the CEO of the world’s largest social media platform, faces a turbulent week. As he and his executive team prepare for his Senate testimony, an escalating crisis with a major partner and distractions from Edgar’s side projects derail their efforts. When a leaked document humiliates Edgar during the hearing, he lashes out at his team before discovering the real source of betrayal.


The second storyline reimagines these characters as influential figures in the history of math and computer science, tracing critical moments of innovation. They grapple with ethical and philosophical questions about technology’s impact on society, the meaning of existence, and the dangers of unchecked advancement.

Cast of Characters

(in order of appearance)

Jamaal Warner Junior Algorithm Engineer, male, 19-25

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 various US senators

Senator #2 various US senators


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


Settings

Edgar’s house, living room, present day

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Room

216, the Hart Senate Office Building, present day


Production Notes

The primary set of the play is the living room of Edgars house which has a large video wall. The rest of the settings will be suggested using small set pieces, props, lighting/projections and the video wall. Most of the time, the video wall in Edgar’s living room should be configured to look like this:



© 2025 by Peter B. Sonenstein.

bottom of page