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READINGS​

 

Places

The Alla Nazimova Story

Written & Performed by Romy Nordlinger

2019 Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival

Saturday, August 31 at 7:30 p.m. in the Family Theater

Directed by Cailin Heffernan

The theater and silent film legend returns to set the record straight about her battles with bigotry, misogyny, and homophobia, and remind us that the fight for justice and equality for everyone is far from over. 

Lake Effect

By Richard Brockman

2018 Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival

Saturday, September 1 at 3 p.m. in the Bird Room

Directed by Kelsey D. Phelps

The cold and stormy weekend on Lake Geneva when Mary Shelley created Frankenstein, of The Modern Prometheus. 

Farm Hall

By David C. Cassidy

Monday, November 20, 2017 - 7 p.m.

@ Carnegie Science

1530 P Street, NW | Washington, DC  20005

 

Directed by Kurt Elftmann

 

As World War II draws to a close the leading minds of the Nazi atomic weapons program are held in secret at a remote manor house in the English countryside. 

 

 

Emilie's Voltaire

By Arthur Giron

 

Friday, November 10, 2017 - 7 p.m.

@ The Alliance Française of Washington, DC 

2142 Wyoming Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20008

Directed by Kelsey D. Phelps

From the first tempestuous night they found a passion that bound two kindred hearts and minds together for a lifetime.

Reykjavik

By Richard Rhodes

2017 Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival

Monday, September 4 at 4:30 p.m.

Directed by Kelsey D. Phelps

In 1986 at the height of the Cold War President Ronald Reagan and General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev met in Iceland to decide the future of the nuclear arms race. Despite mutual suspicion, politics, a huge bluff and no agreement, a friendship was formed that would change the course of history.

Reykjavik

By Richard Rhodes

 

@ The Meeting of the American Physical Society

Sponsored by: The Forum on the History of Physics, The Forum on Outreach and Engaging the Public and The Forum on Physics and Society

Sunday, January 29, 2017 - 8 p.m.

Wardman Park Marriott

Washington, DC

Directed by Kelsey D. Phelps

In 1986 at the height of the Cold War President Ronald Reagan and General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev met in Iceland to decide the future of the nuclear arms race. Despite mutual suspicion, politics, a huge bluff and no agreement, a friendship was formed that would change the course of history.

Strings 

By Carole Bugge

 

2016 Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival

Monday, September 5 at 7:00 PM at the Millennium Stage South

 

Directed by Stevie Zimmerman

 

A new draft born out of Tonic's 2015 P2S reading audience feedback. Riffing on a real-life train ride in which American physicists Burt Ovrut and Paul Steinhardt and English physicist Neil Turok tweaked the Big Bang theory, changing it forever. En route from Cambridge to London, the fictional trio discusses science, explores old jealousies and infidelities and is visited by famous dead scientists Isaac Newton, Marie Curie and Max Planck.

 

Contains strong language and adult subject matter.

Dahlia

By P. Seth Bauer

 

2016 Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival

Saturday, September 3 at 6:00 PM in the Russian Lounge

No reservations required

http://www.kennedy-center.org/

 

Directed by Kelsey Phelps

 

Josh struggles with his own memories and with evidence, published by his Uncle Steve Hodel in Black Dahlia Avenger, that his Grandfather George Hodel was responsible for the 1947 Black Dahlia murder of Elizabeth Short. Could his grandfather be responsible for the gruesome, macabre and unsolved crime? (not for children)

 

Contains strong language and adult subject matter.

Moving Bodies

By Arthur Giron

Monday, December 7, 2015 - 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.

National Academy of Sciences

2101 Constitution Avenue Northwest

Washington, DC 20418

 

Directed by Rachael Murray

Stage Manager: Julie DeBakey Smith

 

Join Tonic Theater Company at the National Academy of Sciences for a free reading of Moving Bodies by Arthur Giron on Monday, December 7 at 6:30 p.m. Presented in partnership with Cultural Projects of the National Academy of Sciences (CPNAS), there will be a post reading discussion with the playwright. Giron, recently represented on Broadway by his book for the musical Amazing Grace, has crafted a beautiful play about the life of outspoken scientist, and bongo player, Richard "Dick" Feynman, taking us from his youth as a science enthusiast to his strong criticisms, as a member of the Rogers Commission, of the political minds that ultimately caused the shuttle Challenger disaster.

Moving Bodies was commissioned by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Strings 

By Carole Bugge

 

2015 Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival.

Saturday, September 5 at 4:00 PM in the Israeli Lounge

No reservations required

A brief conversation with the playwright, director and cast will take place from 5:30 - 5:45 PM.

http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/event/XPPPS

 

Directed by Stevie Zimmerman

 

Loosely riffing on a real-life train ride in which American physicist Burt Ovrut, Paul Steinhardt and English physicist Neil Turok tweaked the Big Bang theory, changing it forever. En route from Cambridge to London, the fictional trio discusses science, explores old jealousies and infidelities and is visited by famous dead scientists Isaac Newton, Marie Curie and Max Planck.

 

Contains strong language and adult subject matter.

Darwin at Down

By Gino DiIorio

 

2014 Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival

 

Monday, September 1 at 1:00 P.M in the Family Theater

A brief conversation with the playwright, director and cast will take place from 2:45 - 3:00 P.M.

 

Directed by Rachael Murray

 

Charles Darwin struggles with his decision to write On the Origin of Species. His wife Emma objects, fearing they will be punished by God for challenging the Biblical account of The Creation. When their daughter Anne falls suddenly and mysteriously ill, it seems that Emma's worst fears are confirmed and the disagreement between Charles and Emma boils over.

Peace, Freedom, Bankruptcy

By Ernie Joselovitz

 

Tonic Theater Company @ The Playwright's Forum

Monday, August 5, 2013 at 7:00

The Playwright's Forum: Iona Senior Services Center

4125 Albemarle St, NW, Washington, DC 20016

 

Directed by Gillian Drake

 

Benjamin Franklin and John Adams don't exactly see eye to eye - on anything. John Jay just has to manage their "delicate" relationship... and help negotiate a peace with England, establish the borders of a whole new country, fund that country, navigate French intrigue and, of course, deal with a dysfunctional Congress. It makes the Federalist Papers sound easy.

Readings from:

  Emilie's Voltaire - By Arthur Giron - Directed by Alex Polmer

  Lake Effect - By Richard Brockman - Directed by Jennifer J. Hopkins

Monday, April 1, 2013 at 7:00pm

The Getaway

Columbia Heights

 

We'll visit the stormy weekend when Mary Shelley built her Modern Prometheus and the tempestuous night that bound two kindred hearts and minds together for a lifetime.

T.J.

By Mark Dunn

Monday, November 19, 2012 at 7pm

The Getaway

Columbia Heights

Director: Gillian Drake

Full title of the play:

"T.J.

or

THE PUBLICK AND PRIVATE INTRIGUES

OF THOMAS JEFFERSON AND HIS ILLUSTRIOUS CIRCLE

a quasi-historical tragicomedy in two acts"

Join us as we explore what the history of the Founding Fathers might look like if some of those rumors and myths about them were true.

Darwin at Down 

By Gino DiIorio

Sunday, September 23, 2012 at 7pm

The Getaway

1400 Meridian Place NW

2nd Floor

Columbia Heights

Director: Gillian Drake

 

Synopsis: In 1849 Charles Darwin is in a race against time. Over the objections of his wife, Emma, he has begun writing his book, “On the Origin of Species”. Charles knows that other scientists are working to publish about this problem and that this work will change scientific inquiry forever. Emma fears that God will smite them for challenging belief in the creation. When Annie, Darwin’s young daughter, suddenly contracts a serious illness but Charles continues his work, the rift between Emma and Charles grows.

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