The Demo is an electronic opera by composer/performers Mikel Rouse and Ben Neill. The piece is inspired by the remarkable story of computer pioneer Douglas Engelbart’s prophetic vision of a world interconnected through personal computers. His 1968 demo rolled out virtually all that would define modern computing including videoconferencing, text editing, and something called a “mouse.” Using emerging digital technologies to explore live performance with interactive media and original music, The Demo reveals the origin of computing and the internet as a unique hybrid performance event.
The Demo premieres on April 1 at Stanford Live’s Bing Concert Hall in Stanford, CA. Tickets and more information are available here.
Ridge Theater for Ben Neill and Mikel Rouse received a 2014 MAP grant for this project.
