Dead White Zombies' 'Big Bird' Blends AI, Ritual, and Immersive Theater in Dallas

Dead White Zombies (DWZ) presents 'Big Bird,' an immersive performance at The Cedars Union's Boedeker Building in Dallas, running Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. until May 30, 2026. The show blends absurdist theater with multimedia elements, creating a sensory overload that blurs the line between humans and AI. Characters include Moore (Maiza Hixon), Tellus (Jennifer Culver), XR-VR (Kyle Hurst), SL-1 (Laura Hyunihee Kim), CEv (Hilly Holsonback), Dog Man (Ely Sellers), Echo (Stephanie Oustalet), and Badai (Peng Jin Quan). The first half evokes a dystopian vibe in a blue-lit room with suspended screens, while the second half shifts to a more open industrial space. DWZ Director Thomas Riccio noted that several AI programs collaborated to create the music, making AI a key character. The performance critiques technology's impact on humanity, with LED screens declaring messages like 'There's no annihilation, we only think there is' and 'Fear NOT. Being human no longer has meaning.' The title 'Big Bird' evokes associations with Sesame Street, Big Brother, and carrier pigeons from World Wars I and II.