DRONE, by Joyce Award-winning playwright Andrea Assaf, tells the story of a U.S. pilot who moves to Nevada for a new job—and what that job does to him, and his family. It explores the drone as a metaphor for how we become desensitized to violence (domestic and global), the question of Moral Injury, and the effects of remote-control warfare on the human soul. Set in Las Vegas, the drone pilot’s story is juxtaposed with the poetic testimonies of three Survivors, based on the real-life testimonies of witnesses and survivors of drone strikes, written into multi-voice poetry. The Survivors seem to talk to the pilot through screens and devices, while sharing their stories with the audience.

As the pilot’s mental health becomes increasingly affected, he escapes more and more into the Las Vegas nightlife, while his wife turns to faith for support, joining a local ministry (which, unbeknownst to her, is preparing for the end of days). During an impulsive visit to the military base, she encounters a group of protestors, and a temple to the ancient Egyptian goddess, Sekhmet. As the play takes a turn toward tragedy, we meet a host of characters, including a retired Air Force General, a Sex Worker, a Preacher, and multiple Elvis impersonators.

The play is accompanied by an original music score, and an immersive media design.