Haute 100 Update: Play About Steve Jobs to Open as Scheduled Despite his Death

The world continues to mourn the passing of Apple founder Steve Jobs, who passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at the age of 56 after a years-long battle with cancer among other health issues. Meanwhile, the new play that was written about his life, the public’s love affair with his work, and the human cost of the gadgetry’s creation, will premiere as scheduled.

The off-Broadway one-man show entitled The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs will open as scheduled on Oct. 17 at The Public Theater in New York with previews to begin next week.

The play is not a straightforward homage to Jobs, but is described by performer Mike Daisey as a “hilarious and harrowing tale of pride, beauty, lust, and industrial design.” The play explores Jobs’ obsession with technology as well stories of Daisey’s own experiences of touring iPod and iPhone factories in China.

“This moment is an opportunity to peel back the surface and get at the secret heart of our relationship with Steve Jobs, his devices, our labor, and China itself,” said Daisey. “Steve Jobs had an enormous impact on our lives; in many ways, the world he has left to us is his world. This is a perfect moment to contemplate that world, its values and practices, and decide what parts of his legacy we should embrace and what parts we need to reject.”

Our Haute 100 list details the accomplishments of the most influential people in each of our markets. To see the entire Haute 100 San Francisco list, click here.