The musical landscape of contemporary theater has seen a significant shift with the world premiere of ‘Co-Founders’ at ACT’s Strand Theater, where technology seamlessly integrates with storytelling.
Set against the backdrop of the Bay Area’s innovative tech culture, ‘Co-Founders’ reflects the spirit of a startup environment through the lens of a skilled AI coder and aspiring entrepreneur.
The show dives deep into the world of screens and digital interfaces, bringing forth a visual experience that enhances its narrative. Through savvy use of video and projection technology, the creative team has created a stage that feels alive with the hustle and bustle of modern life.
The innovative use of projections in recent years has become a hallmark in successful productions, with shows like ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ effectively utilizing social media snippets, and ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ showcasing stunning projection mapping. Likewise, this season’s revival of ‘Sunset Boulevard’ has introduced an enthralling six-minute sequence that makes full use of live projections.
In ‘Co-Founders’, the forward-thinking team has crafted a visually dynamic environment where characters navigate through scenes that are transformed by projections.
The upstage display features moving street scenes from Oakland, where characters virtually drive, and high-rise views from San Francisco, illustrating a city viewed through a digital lens.
The set is an intricate design adorned with Victorian-style bay windows and a metal framework that itself becomes a canvas for projections, contributing significantly to the show’s aesthetic appeal.
However, while the technical and design aspects of ‘Co-Founders’ are noteworthy, the heart of the musical lies in its exploration of the experiences of people of color making their way in the Bay Area’s competitive atmosphere.
The storyline paints a vivid picture of characters balancing gigs like Uber and DoorDash alongside their ambitions to secure Series A funding for their innovative apps.
The project has been brought to life by a talented trio of local artists, closely tied to both the Bay Area music scene and the tech industry, showcasing a blend of humor and culturally relevant references.
Moments such as a white character’s query about hyphy elicit laughter from audiences familiar with the term, while lead character Esata, portrayed by Aneesa Folds, delivers a witty commentary on startup culture through her personal experiences.
Folds’s performance stands out, as she embodies the ambitious entrepreneur with charisma and grace, especially in her powerful musical numbers such as ‘The One Percent’ and ‘This Is the Bay.’
Co-writer and producer Adesha Adefela portrays Esata’s mother and various other roles, demonstrating remarkable versatility and comedic talent.
In addition, Ryan Nicole Austin provides comedic relief in her role as Kamaiyah and others, while Roe Hartrampf surprises audiences with his performance as Esata’s co-founder, Conway DeLouche.
While the plot revolves around Esata’s journey within the tech startup realm—navigating the fine line between ambition and ethical compromise—the emotional undercurrents of the musical drive the story forward.
A unique twist is introduced with the character of Cyril, portrayed by Tommy Soulati Shepherd, who serves as both a deceased father and an AI entity, bringing additional depth to the narrative.
Despite some technical hiccups during the premiere, where Shepherd’s involvement as an AI character created moments of real-time interaction with the projections, the overall execution was ambitious and engaging.
Some elements of the show, including a musical number involving the AI character, may come off as slightly forced, but the spirit of experimentation underpins the production’s charm.
As a world premiere, ‘Co-Founders’ is still evolving, with opportunities for refinement in some of its musical numbers that may not resonate as strongly as others.
Audiences are treated to an entertaining theater experience filled with references to the Bay Area culture, appealing to both local residents and those curious about its dynamic environment.
With its limited four-week run and only 283 seats at The Strand, ‘Co-Founders’ is already garnering attention, illustrating the growing intersection of technology and theater artistry in modern productions.
This ambitious musical sets a promising tone for future works, potentially redefining how stories integrating technology can be told on stage.
image source from：https://sfist.com/2025/06/13/co-founders-at-act-is-a-joyously-oakland-centric-hip-hop-musical-about-startup-culture/
