Epic Theatre Ensemble presents
THE WINNING SIDE
A new play by James Wallert
Directed by Ron Russell
Featuring Melissa Friedman, Devin E. Haqq, Sullivan Jones, and Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr.
What are we willing to sacrifice to take the next “giant leap for mankind”?
Based on the true story of Wernher von Braun, Chief Rocket Engineer of the Third Reich and one of the fathers of the U.S. space program, THE WINNING SIDE explores the hidden history behind America’s 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing.
As the preeminent face and voice of space exploration on television during the 1950’s and 60’s, von Braun was one of the most famous men in the world. But because of his complicated legacy, he’s largely been left out of the history books. With The Winning Side, Wallert creates an accessible theatrical experience that re-examines this forgotten figure of the space race, and asks challenging questions about our contemporary views of science, technology, politics, and ethics.
October 3 – November 4
Theatre Row
410 West 42nd Street
Stage Manager: Molly Minor Eustis
Set/Projections Designer: Chika Shimizu
Lighting Designer: Cat Tate Starmer
Costume Designer: Betsy Rugg-Hinds
Production Manager: Caitlin O’Rourke
Casting: Calleri Casting
Press: DKC/O&M
WORLD PREMIERE SPONSORS
John Carlson, Bill Martin, and Paula Sauder
About the play
The Winning Side explores the whitewashed history behind America’s 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing, including the critical role of Nazi SS Officer Wernher von Braun, who built the V-2 for Hitler.
The Winning Side takes a complex and critical look at America’s space program and the man who got us to the moon, former Nazi SS Officer Wernher von Braun. Moving alternately backward in time from 1969 in America and forward in time from 1943 in occupied Paris, to collide at the launch of the first V-2 rocket in 1945, the play uses a sharp wit to paint a picture of von Braun’s relentless charm, from a high-stakes love affair with a Parisian actress to his encounters with American icons like Lyndon Johnson and Walt Disney. Funny, fast, and insightful, The Winning Side also packs an emotional punch, urging us, in light of both past and current races to make America “great,” to wrestle with our national tendency to choose expediency over ethics.
Post Show Guests
The Winning Side has invited guest experts in the fields of history, science, politics, engineering and technology. These talks are an important part of Epic Theatre Ensemble‘s mission to promote vital discourse. Audience members are invited to stay after every show for these lively and fascinating discussions that will revolve around the play’s subject matter.
The Winning Side Special Information
In 2015, James Wallert received a Smithsonian Fellowship at the National Air and Space Museum to research The Winning Side. From the team that brought New York many OBIE-Award-winning and nationally-recognized productions, including Nilaja Sun’s No Child… and Pike St., the NYC Premier of Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play in Brooklyn, Judith Thompson’s Palace of the End, and the World Premieres of Dispatches From (A) Mended America and Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths.