THE EGG: A Play
Austin, Texas | Theatre
Sci-Fi, Comedy
THE EGG is a theatrical thrill ride about technology run amok. It's about isolation and connection; aging and childhood; love, death, and friendship... And it's got an ARMY OF DOLLS.
THE EGG: A Play
Austin, Texas | Theatre
Sci-Fi, Comedy
1 Campaigns | Texas, United States
75 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$12,731
Goal: $33,600 for production
THE EGG is a theatrical thrill ride about technology run amok. It's about isolation and connection; aging and childhood; love, death, and friendship... And it's got an ARMY OF DOLLS.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
THE EGG is a dark comedy about love and secrecy. It blends humor, magical realism, and science fiction to create a truly unique theatrical experience. Although set in a fantastical future, THE EGG draws its characters from today — young and old, male, female, and nonbinary, neurodivergent and neurotypical — all struggling to evolve without losing what makes them human.
I am extremely proud of this play. I believe it will delight audiences while also exploring serious topics like the encroachment of artificial intelligence, the diminishing value of art and artists, and what it means to live authentically in world that feels like a simulation.
—Noah Masterson, playwright and producer of THE EGG
Table Reading on March 18, 2026
What We Need
We need help making this production as wild and audacious as its underlying script. Specifically, we need to pay cast and crew to give this show the professional sheen it deserves. Every penny earned through this campaign will make THE EGG shine that much brighter.
The Ask
One of THE EGG's many themes is how art gets devalued in a technocratic society. So, for starters, I need to pay the cast and crew what they are worth.
The play also contains many fantastical, visual elements: An army of dolls (perhaps performed by puppets); sculptures made from bodily fluids (I know, eww!); even flight. The visual effects have the potential to astonish.
I believe art is a form of resistance. And, specifically, live theater is a form of resistance to the encroachment of artificial intelligence, to fakery and spam, to the politics of dehumanization, and to the loneliness epidemic.
Note: If this campaign succeeds, your gift is tax-deductible! Donations from this campaign will go to The Zahir Productions, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. EIN: 41-2685482. All contributions to this campaign are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
Help us make THE EGG. Help us spread delight and joy. Thank you.
—Noah
Non-Financial Ways to Help
Even if you can’t chip in financially, you can still make a huge impact. The more people hear about THE EGG, the more likely it is to hatch into something extraordinary. Here’s how you can help it take flight:
First and foremost, follow this Seed & Spark campaign!
Social Media
Instagram:
@theegg.play or @the_zahir_productions
Tag us and use #TheEggPlay or #GetEnriched to boost the project’s discoverability.
Word of Mouth (Offline)
- Tell your friends, coworkers, or that one person who still loves weird, smart theater.
- Mention THE EGG at book clubs, creative meetups, and art events — personal enthusiasm is gold.
- If you know a journalist, podcaster, or blogger who covers theater or tech/art intersections, send them our way.
Volunteer or Collaborate
- Offer your skills — whether it’s photography, marketing, set building, social media, or behind-the-scenes support.
- Austin locals can help with early promo shoots, reading nights, and live-event logistics.
Subscribe & Stay Connected
- Sign up for more EGG updates at the-egg-play.com
- Join Noah's newsletter at or follow the journey on social media. (Insta: @the.egg.play)
- Comment, like, and share updates — every interaction helps signal that real people care about real theater.
Theatrical Universe
To increase this campaign's viral potential, we've developed several websites — Easter Eggs!
Raymond's Dev Log: Main character Raymond Niederhendler grouses about technology. Until evil Agnes takes over. (For this website, Raymond's blog posts are automated and AI-generated. Here's how we did it.)
Get Enriched!: A sinister public service website promoting brain chips and mind control.
De-Enrich Me!: Back-alley surgeon Lambast P. Sketch is available for hire. But it will cost you.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast & Crew
Costs $20,300
Let's get people PAID. This includes director, stage manager, lighting and sound technicians, props, and a cast of 13.
Venue Rental
Costs $10,600
This covers the cost of venue rental for 12 nights of performance and three tech rehearsals.
Materials for Costumes, Scenery & Special Effects
Costs $2,700
THE EGG is set in a fantastical future: talking iguanas, armies of dolls, and lots and lots of feathers.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
THE ZAHIR PRODUCTIONS
Additional backing is provided by The Zahir, a dramatic arts company in Austin, Texas.
WRITER & PRODUCER
Noah Masterson holds a degree in screenwriting from the University of Miami. Noah worked as a musician, composer, and sound designer with Inverse Theater Company in York City in the late 90s and early aughts. After leaving New York, Noah entered the corporate world and stayed there for 20 years. During that time, THE EGG was incubating. Now, it is ready to hatch.
DIRECTOR
David Ritch is a 5th Grade Math Teacher, director, writer, and designer. He graduated from Texas State University with a Major in Theatre. He is always interested in making something new, fun, and intriguing. He has an affinity for the unusual, and is therefore very excited to be a part of this production. He directed THE YOLK, a pared down version of THE EGG, at FronteraFest, in Austin, TX in January 2025.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
L.B. Deyo is the artistic director of The Zahir and author of Invisible Frontier: Exploring the tunnels, ruins & rooftops of hidden New York and several other books. He's acted in such Austin plays as The Intergalactic Nemesis and Dance, Cupcake, Dance. Seed & Spark-funded Apprehension was his first work as a playwright. His next play, Oversight, premiers July 29th.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
THE EGG is a dark comedy about love and secrecy. It blends humor, magical realism, and science fiction to create a truly unique theatrical experience. Although set in a fantastical future, THE EGG draws its characters from today — young and old, male, female, and nonbinary, neurodivergent and neurotypical — all struggling to evolve without losing what makes them human.
I am extremely proud of this play. I believe it will delight audiences while also exploring serious topics like the encroachment of artificial intelligence, the diminishing value of art and artists, and what it means to live authentically in world that feels like a simulation.
—Noah Masterson, playwright and producer of THE EGG
Table Reading on March 18, 2026
What We Need
We need help making this production as wild and audacious as its underlying script. Specifically, we need to pay cast and crew to give this show the professional sheen it deserves. Every penny earned through this campaign will make THE EGG shine that much brighter.
The Ask
One of THE EGG's many themes is how art gets devalued in a technocratic society. So, for starters, I need to pay the cast and crew what they are worth.
The play also contains many fantastical, visual elements: An army of dolls (perhaps performed by puppets); sculptures made from bodily fluids (I know, eww!); even flight. The visual effects have the potential to astonish.
I believe art is a form of resistance. And, specifically, live theater is a form of resistance to the encroachment of artificial intelligence, to fakery and spam, to the politics of dehumanization, and to the loneliness epidemic.
Note: If this campaign succeeds, your gift is tax-deductible! Donations from this campaign will go to The Zahir Productions, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. EIN: 41-2685482. All contributions to this campaign are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
Help us make THE EGG. Help us spread delight and joy. Thank you.
—Noah
Non-Financial Ways to Help
Even if you can’t chip in financially, you can still make a huge impact. The more people hear about THE EGG, the more likely it is to hatch into something extraordinary. Here’s how you can help it take flight:
First and foremost, follow this Seed & Spark campaign!
Social Media
Instagram:
@theegg.play or @the_zahir_productions
Tag us and use #TheEggPlay or #GetEnriched to boost the project’s discoverability.
Word of Mouth (Offline)
- Tell your friends, coworkers, or that one person who still loves weird, smart theater.
- Mention THE EGG at book clubs, creative meetups, and art events — personal enthusiasm is gold.
- If you know a journalist, podcaster, or blogger who covers theater or tech/art intersections, send them our way.
Volunteer or Collaborate
- Offer your skills — whether it’s photography, marketing, set building, social media, or behind-the-scenes support.
- Austin locals can help with early promo shoots, reading nights, and live-event logistics.
Subscribe & Stay Connected
- Sign up for more EGG updates at the-egg-play.com
- Join Noah's newsletter at or follow the journey on social media. (Insta: @the.egg.play)
- Comment, like, and share updates — every interaction helps signal that real people care about real theater.
Theatrical Universe
To increase this campaign's viral potential, we've developed several websites — Easter Eggs!
Raymond's Dev Log: Main character Raymond Niederhendler grouses about technology. Until evil Agnes takes over. (For this website, Raymond's blog posts are automated and AI-generated. Here's how we did it.)
Get Enriched!: A sinister public service website promoting brain chips and mind control.
De-Enrich Me!: Back-alley surgeon Lambast P. Sketch is available for hire. But it will cost you.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast & Crew
Costs $20,300
Let's get people PAID. This includes director, stage manager, lighting and sound technicians, props, and a cast of 13.
Venue Rental
Costs $10,600
This covers the cost of venue rental for 12 nights of performance and three tech rehearsals.
Materials for Costumes, Scenery & Special Effects
Costs $2,700
THE EGG is set in a fantastical future: talking iguanas, armies of dolls, and lots and lots of feathers.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
THE ZAHIR PRODUCTIONS
Additional backing is provided by The Zahir, a dramatic arts company in Austin, Texas.
WRITER & PRODUCER
Noah Masterson holds a degree in screenwriting from the University of Miami. Noah worked as a musician, composer, and sound designer with Inverse Theater Company in York City in the late 90s and early aughts. After leaving New York, Noah entered the corporate world and stayed there for 20 years. During that time, THE EGG was incubating. Now, it is ready to hatch.
DIRECTOR
David Ritch is a 5th Grade Math Teacher, director, writer, and designer. He graduated from Texas State University with a Major in Theatre. He is always interested in making something new, fun, and intriguing. He has an affinity for the unusual, and is therefore very excited to be a part of this production. He directed THE YOLK, a pared down version of THE EGG, at FronteraFest, in Austin, TX in January 2025.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
L.B. Deyo is the artistic director of The Zahir and author of Invisible Frontier: Exploring the tunnels, ruins & rooftops of hidden New York and several other books. He's acted in such Austin plays as The Intergalactic Nemesis and Dance, Cupcake, Dance. Seed & Spark-funded Apprehension was his first work as a playwright. His next play, Oversight, premiers July 29th.