Joliet Central High School Drama will present "The Day the Internet Died" by Ian McWethy and Jason Pizzarello on Thursday, October 8, Friday, October 9, and Saturday, October 10, at 7 p.m. in the Joliet Central Auditorium. Directed by Joe Hoyt, the production has been reimagined, with the playwrights' permission, as a fully immersive theatre experience. 

When a small town suddenly loses its internet, residents are left without their phones, apps and online lives. Panic, rumors and long-buried tensions bubble to the surface as people are forced to actually talk to one another. A town hall meeting is called to sort out the chaos, and the audience is invited to attend. The comedy takes a funny, sharp look at how dependent we have become on being connected and what happens when we suddenly have to unplug. 

This is not a traditional night at the theatre. Similar in style to Chicago's acclaimed immersive staging of "Southern Gothic," the production places audience members in the story as townspeople at the meeting rather than in rows of seats. Audience members decide where to go and what to watch. Scenes unfold in different spaces at the same time, so no two people will see the show the same way, and each performance offers a new experience worth coming back for. 

"This is a theatrical experience unlike anything our traditional audiences have ever experienced," said Hoyt. "I am so excited to offer our community the chance to experience our show, instead of just watching it." 

Tickets are $5 and are available online through MySchoolBucks by scanning the QR code on the flyer below, or at the door. 

Joliet Central High School Drama gives students hands-on experience in acting, directing, design and technical theatre while bringing bold, creative productions to the Joliet community. 
 
Media Contact: Joe Hoyt, Director, Joliet Central Drama, jhoyt@jths.org