New York City’s theater landscape is about to be gripped by “60/40,” an Equity-approved Showcase premiering this June at the Hudson Guild. More than just a theatrical production, this play serves as a stark warning, a sentiment profoundly echoed by actor Michael O’Day, who is not only a key performer in the ensemble but also a compelling voice on the urgent themes the play explores.
“60/40” plunges audiences into a chilling future where humanity faces an impossible ultimatum: relocate 40% of Earth’s population to another planet within a frantic seven-day window. This desperate measure is necessitated by a cataclysmic asteroid event decades prior, which left Earth nearly uninhabitable and led to the consolidation of immense wealth and power, culminating in “ONE MEDIA”—the singular source of all news and entertainment—now helmed by the recently elected president. The play meticulously dissects the perils of tyranny, media corruption, and champions the vital importance of critical thinking and genuine human connection in an era saturated with misinformation.
Michael O’Day, appearing courtesy of Actor’s Equity Association, is part of a twelve-member cast bringing this urgent narrative to life. When asked about the “scary dystopian future” presented in “60/40,” O’Day’s response is less about fear and more about profound “frustration.” He points out that the play’s core concepts, developed by playwright Naya James back in 2020, resonate disturbingly with his own creative endeavors. “I finished up the first draft of my own dystopian future play around the same time,” O’Day reveals, highlighting a shared artistic foresight among creators. His frustration stems from the disconnect between artistic warnings and public perception: “Plenty of us have sounded similar kinds of warnings, in lots of different ways through lots of different kinds of stories. At some point, the audiences for all of these projects need to stop thinking ‘wow, cool, what an interesting concept, where do writers get their crazy ideas anyway’ and start thinking ‘oh crap, I’m in actual danger here.'” This statement underscores O’Day’s belief in the play’s immediate relevance and its potential to awaken audiences to pressing global issues.
For O’Day, acting in a show about the world’s future isn’t about taking on a new responsibility, but rather being “more strongly reminded that we already have a responsibility as storytellers.” He posits that even lighthearted comedies often grapple with “universal vices – like greed, pride, and complacency – that helped sink us into our current mess in the first place.” This perspective suggests that the very act of storytelling inherently carries a duty to reflect and critique human nature and society.
The line between fantasy and reality is particularly blurred for O’Day, who asserts, “The fantasies already are reality.” He views science fiction not as mere escapism, but as “an extrapolation of what’s happening in the present, pushed to extremes.” Given the “pretty damned extreme already” nature of current global events, O’Day implies that “60/40” is not merely predicting a distant future, but holding a mirror to the present.
In “60/40,” Michael O’Day portrays Dr. Morgan, a role he finds surprisingly accessible. “Weirdly enough, this role has probably required the least amount of prep of any comparable role I’ve played,” he comments. While he still engages in his usual rigorous text and character work, he notes, “Dr. Morgan is a character very much like me in a lot of crucial ways. So for all the science fiction bells and whistles, playing the man is really just a matter of believing what he says and telling the truth. (And mastering a little more jargon than usual.)” This personal connection to Dr. Morgan suggests a deeply authentic performance, lending weight to the character’s perspective within the unfolding crisis.
Looking beyond “60/40,” O’Day’s commitment to storytelling remains strong. “I have a few of my own scripts I need to find time to write,” he shares, adding with a touch of poignant realism, “And who knows what kind of time we have these days?” This sentiment perfectly encapsulates the urgency that permeates “60/40” and the broader concerns that motivate artists like Michael O’Day to create and perform work that challenges, enlightens, and compels audiences to confront the realities of their own world.
“60/40” offers a vital opportunity to engage with these powerful themes, presented by a dedicated cast including Michael O’Day. The play runs for a limited engagement at the Hudson Guild, 441 W 26th Street, New York City, on:
- Monday, June 9 @ 6:30 PM
- Wednesday, June 11 @ 9:00 PM
- Saturday, June 14 @ 6:45 PM
OUTER-STAGE 