Our Mission
Tonic Theater Company is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to increasing public knowledge and understanding of history and science
around the world through the power of theater.
Our understanding of history evolves, and science is constantly advancing. We believe that theater must also change and adapt. That's why we're reaching beyond theater walls and across borders to build a global community.
You can help support Tonic's mission by clicking on the donate button and giving what you can.
You can also subscribe to our Patreon creator page.
Doing Things Differently
Nourish community, mind and body.
Tonic Theater Company is developing a new model for how a nonprofit theater company operates, financially and socially. At its heart is the idea that benefitting people is the most profitable end to serve.
Connecting with community in a meaningful way is directly connected to the resources an organization can bring to bear. Tonic is exploring opportunities to solve both of those problems, while affording a small arts organization the opportunity to expand its reach to a global community.
Check back for updates.
The Company
Tonic Theater Company stands at the crossroads of art and science. We tell the stories of the people and events, familiar and unfamiliar which have shaped our world.
There has never been a more important time to support science.
People are hungry for stories about science and history, as the success of plays and movies such as Copenhagen, Breaking the Code, A Beautiful Mind, and Hidden Figures attests. However, access to these stories is also often limited by price, geography, or physical ability. But at a time of unprecedented ability to communicate information and ideas, access to information is not the primary issue, content is. The mass media deals in sound bites and frequently view science as too complex for this format. There are sustained attacks by corporations and politicians who deny climate change is happening and question the validity of the most basic scientific truths, labeling the proof and the scientists that provide it as fake and frauds. Around the country public school systems are teaching Creationism alongside science and encouraging students to read and study religious texts.
The arts are translators of difficult, often opaque subjects, presenting information in an understandable and entertaining fashion.
Tonic is a synthesis of history, science and theater, using technology to reach across the country and around the world to entertain and educate.
As part of our mission, we encourage emerging and established playwrights to engage with scientific themes in their work. Public engagement is further expanded through panels, readings, workshops, and special events. Where appropriate, these forums employ professional actors, providing an opportunity for playwrights to hear the script, gauge audience reactions, and receive feedback to further shape their work. The goal is to promote the production of commissioned, science-themed plays in our nation’s capital and in regional theaters around the country. Tonic also seeks to use live streaming of play performances and other content to increase its mission reach to a global audience.
By meeting a series of short-term goals we're moving steadily forward with our mission.
We also partner with other organizations that promote science and history, including:
The Cultural Projects of the National Academy of Sciences (CPNAS) to present a reading of the Sloan Foundation Award winning play Moving Bodies, by Arthur Giron, at the Nation Academy of Sciences.
The American Physical Society (APS) in Washington, DC to present a reading of the play Reykjavik, by Pulitzer Prize winning author Richard Rhodes (The Making of the Atomic Bomb).
The Alliance Française of Washington DC for a reading of Emilie’s Voltaire, by Arthur Giron.
The APS again for a reading of Farm Hall, by David Cassidy, at the Carnegie Institution for Science.
For the past six years Tonic Theater Company has been invited to participate in the Page–to–Stage Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts here in Washington, DC.
Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy
Policy Statement
Tonic Theater Company is committed to a work environment where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Every individual has the right to work in a professional atmosphere that promotes equal employment opportunities and prohibits unlawful discriminatory practices, including harassment. Therefore, Tonic Theater Company expects that all relationships among persons in the office will be business-like and free of explicit bias, prejudice, and harassment.
Tonic Theater Company has developed this policy to ensure that all its employees can work in an environment free from unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. Tonic Theater Company will make every reasonable effort to ensure that all concerned are familiar with these policies and are aware that any complaint in violation of such policies will be investigated and resolved appropriately.
Any employee who has questions or concerns about these policies should talk with the director of human resources or a member of the personnel practices committee.
These policies should not, and may not, be used as a basis for excluding or separating individuals of a particular gender, or any other protected characteristic, from participating in business or work-related social activities or discussions. In other words, no one should make the mistake of engaging in discrimination or exclusion to avoid allegations of harassment. The law and the policies of Tonic Theater Company prohibit disparate treatment on the basis of sex or any other protected characteristic, with regard to terms, conditions, privileges, and perquisites of employment. The prohibitions against harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are intended to complement and further those policies, not to form the basis of an exception.
Equal employment opportunity
It is the policy of Tonic Theater Company to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Tonic Theater Company prohibits any such discrimination or harassment.
Retaliation
Tonic Theater Company encourages reporting of all perceived incidents of discrimination or harassment. It is the policy of Tonic Theater Company to promptly and thoroughly investigate such reports. Tonic Theater Company prohibits retaliation against any individual who reports discrimination or harassment or participates in an investigation of such reports.
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment constitutes discrimination and is illegal under federal, state, and local laws. For the purposes of this policy, “sexual harassment” is defined, as in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Guidelines, as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when, for example, a) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment, b) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual, or c) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 recognizes two types of sexual harassment: a) quid pro quo and b) hostile work environment. Sexual harassment may include a range of subtle and not-so-subtle behaviors and may involve individuals of the same or different gender. Depending on the circumstances, these behaviors may include unwanted sexual advances or requests for sexual favors; sexual jokes and innuendo; verbal abuse of a sexual nature; commentary about an individual’s body, sexual prowess, or sexual deficiencies; leering, whistling, or touching; insulting or obscene comments or gestures; display in the workplace of sexually suggestive objects or pictures; and other physical, verbal or visual conduct of a sexual nature.
Harassment
Harassment on the basis of any other protected characteristic is also strictly prohibited. Under this policy, harassment is verbal, written, or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of his or her race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law, or that of his or her relatives, friends or associates, and that: a) has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, b) has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or c) otherwise adversely affects an individual’s employment opportunities.
Harassing conduct includes epithets, slurs, or negative stereotyping; threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts; denigrating jokes; and written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group that is placed on walls or elsewhere on the employer’s premises or circulated in the workplace, on company time or using company equipment by e-mail, phone (including voice messages), text messages, social networking sites or other means.
Individuals and Conduct Covered
These policies apply to all applicants and employees, whether related to conduct engaged in by fellow employees or by someone not directly connected to Tonic Theater Company (e.g., a consultant, customer, or outside vendor).
Conduct prohibited by these policies is unacceptable in the workplace and in any work-related setting outside the workplace, such as during business trips, business meetings, and business-related social events.
Reporting an Incident of Harassment, Discrimination, or Retaliation
Tonic Theater Company encourages reporting of all perceived incidents of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, regardless of the offender’s identity or position. Individuals who believe that they have been the victim of such conduct should discuss their concerns with their immediate supervisor, any member of the personnel practices committee, human resources, or any ombudsman. See the complaint procedure described below.
In addition, Tonic Theater Company encourages individuals who believe they are being subjected to such conduct to promptly advise the offender that his or her behavior is unwelcome and to request that it be discontinued. Often this action alone will resolve the problem. Tonic Theater Company recognizes, however, that an individual may prefer to pursue the matter through complaint procedures.
Individuals may also contact the Office of Human Rights of the District of Columbia, https://ohr.dc.gov/service/file-discrimination-complaint
Complaint Procedure
Individuals who believe they have been the victims of conduct prohibited by this policy or believe they have witnessed such conduct should discuss their concerns with their immediate supervisor, human resources, any member of the personnel practices committee, or any ombudsman.
Tonic Theater Company encourages the prompt reporting of complaints or concerns so that rapid and constructive action can be taken before relationships become irreparably strained. Therefore, while no fixed reporting period has been established, early reporting and intervention have proven to be the most effective method of resolving actual or perceived incidents of harassment.
Any reported allegations of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation will be investigated promptly. The investigation may include individual interviews with the parties involved and, where necessary, with individuals who may have observed the alleged conduct or may have other relevant knowledge.
Tonic Theater Company will maintain confidentiality throughout the investigatory process to the extent consistent with adequate investigation and appropriate corrective action.
Retaliation against an individual for reporting harassment or discrimination or for participating in an investigation of a claim of harassment or discrimination is a serious violation of this policy and, like harassment or discrimination itself, will be subject to disciplinary action. Acts of retaliation should be reported immediately and will be promptly investigated and addressed.
Misconduct constituting harassment, discrimination or retaliation will be dealt with appropriately. Responsive action may include, for example, training, referral to counseling, or disciplinary action such as a warning, reprimand, withholding of a promotion or pay increase, reassignment, temporary suspension without pay, or termination, as Tonic Theater Company believes appropriate under the circumstances.
If a party to a complaint does not agree with its resolution, that party may appeal to Tonic Theater Company’s executive director or the chief operating officer.
False and malicious complaints of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation (as opposed to complaints that, even if erroneous, are made in good faith) may be the subject of appropriate disciplinary action.
