Sensorium World

Sensorium Ex is a groundbreaking new opera that explores the intersections of artificial intelligence (AI), disability, and the arts. Composed by Paola Prestini with a libretto by Brenda Shaughnessy, it features a predominantly disabled cast and a dystopian story about a mother and her nonverbal child. The opera uses custom-designed AI tools, developed with NYU's Ability Lab, to expand the expressive potential of voice for minimally verbal individuals. The visionary production pushes the boundaries of what it means to have a voice, paving the way for future artists with disabilities. Premiered May 2025, Sensorium Ex is by librettist Brenda Shaughnessy and acclaimed composer Paola Prestini, co-directed by Jerron Herman and Jay Scheib, with music direction by Elizabeth Askren. It is commissioned by VisionIntoArt in association with Beth Morrison Projects and Common Senses Festival. Developed and Produced by VisionIntoArt and Beth Morrison Projects. Electronics produced by Sxip Shirey. Sensorium Ex was presented at the RBO Shift Festival at the Royal Opera House in London in June 2026.
For Season 12 we invite you to #ComeAsYouAre! Check out the rest of our programming: nationalsawdust.org/performances