Creative Researcher Yannick Trapman-O’Brien wants your answer to what might not be a hypothetical question:

“What would you do if you won the lottery?”

IF WE WIN is a hands-on theater-thought-experiment in which you just might (but are statistically highly unlikely) to find out. Three participants at a time are asked to share their answers to that question as the kick-off to an exploration of Money, Wealth, and the ways they having (or lacking them) shapes our lives. With curiosity, humor, and a little outrage, together we each study our own relationship to the topic we’ve all been told we shouldn’t bring up at parties.

In exchange for diving in and sharing their answer, the participants are given a scratch-lottery ticket with a payout big enough to make that dream come true. They probably won’t hit the jackpot, but they might — and together, they scratch that ticket and find out what kind of story “might” has to tell.

There will be surprising and even uncomfortable answers. There will be banter, jokes, and personal stories, along an open invitation to ask stupid questions about the needlessly complicated financial systems we live in.

The experience lasts up to 80 minutes, and is accessible free of any charge, by reservation.

Showtimes

Health and Safety

Proof of vaccination is required to attend this and all Cannonball Festival events. For the safety of audiences, artists, staff, and our greater community, you must be fully vaccinated to attend this event. Fully vaccinated means two weeks after your second dose. You will be asked to show proof of vaccination before entering the venue. Accepted forms for proof of vaccination include: a physical vaccine card with your name on it or a digital photo of your vaccine card on a cell phone. Please plan accordingly.

Masks must also be worn for the duration of the performance.

Credits

Performer and Producer: Yannick Trapman-O’Brien

This show is presented as part of Cannonball Festival, an independant satellite festival produced by Almanac Dance Circus Theatre and the Maas Building featuring over 150 events including performances of 27 original shows, nightly cabarets, and more. Learn more at cannonballfestival.org.

Content Considerations

Appropriate for Ages 18+

While participants have full discretion over what details they will share, all three participants will be invited to openly discuss money, wealth, debt, financial literacy, and more. Discomfort arising from these topics will be mitigated with communal griping, jokes, fun facts, measured outrage, and possibly in extreme cases with chocolate.

Audience Instructions

This is a small-group experience for 3 participants at a time. While you will only be required to answer the question “What would you do if you won the lottery?” all participants will be invited to join and contribute to whatever conversation the group makes out of that simple premise.

Audiences are requested to make their way to the Cannonball Box Office up to 15 minutes before showtime. From there they will be directed to the performance space. Performances will be held on the ground floor, outdoors (weather permitting), with an indoor contingency space available.

About the Artists

Yannick Trapman-O’Brien is a Performer, Theatermaker, and Creative Hand for Hire. His practice centers on exploring the exchanges and spaces we are willing to make and share with strangers, as well as seeking unorthodox applications for performance.

People pay him to act, which he has done in Shakespeare, devised work, performance actions and immersive works, as well as amphitheaters, basements, historical mansions, forests and one time on a bike. Past credits include The Walnut Street Theater, Theater Mitu, Witness Relocation, the Interactive Playlab, The American Czech Theater, New Light Theater, and performances at the Franklin Institute, Morris Jumel and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museums. He is an alumni of NYU Abu Dhabi (Theater, BA) and an ongoing collaborator with Monument Lab, Al-Bustan, Guerilla Science and NYU Open Arts.

He is also the creator of The Telelibrary, a critically acclaimed telephone performance for audiences of one.

Occasionally, he sleeps.