Theatre Company presents Photograph 51, Feb. 9-18

January 16, 2024
Two photographs from DMTC’s production of Photograph 51 are combined into one image. On the left, an actress holds an image in her hand while she and an actor look at it. On the right, four actors gather behind a table filled with science materials as they have a discussion.

Detroit Mercy Theatre Company (DMTC) presents the Michigan premiere of Photograph 51 by Anna Ziegler, a captivating and thought-provoking play that tells the story of unsung scientific hero Rosalind Franklin, at the Marlene Boll Theatre inside Detroit’s Boll Family YMCA Feb. 9-18.

Set in the 1950s, the play explores the intense competition among scientists as they race to unravel the secrets of the double helix structure of DNA, the biological organism containing each individual’s genetic code. At the heart of the story is Franklin, a brilliant and determined scientist whose work is overlooked and undervalued due to her gender.

“Rosalind’s passion to discover and seek out the unknown is familiar to me. Her fight and endurance in pursuit of a technological breakthrough against cultural restraints and pressure teaches me,” said director Kennikki Jones-Jones. “I love that she is rooted in truth, that she was a real woman who walked this Earth, and I am grateful that I get to share her story with the world.”

With wit and passion, Photograph 51 takes the audience on a journey through the exhilarating and often treacherous world of scientific discovery and raises important questions about the nature of scientific progress, the role of women in science and the ethics of scientific competition.

“Although set in the 1950s, the story still resonates today, especially as we see more and more women entering STEM careers and fighting for the same understanding and recognition as their male counterparts,” said Andrew Papa, chair of Detroit Mercy’s Department of Performing Arts.

With wit and passion, Photograph 51 takes the audience on a journey through the exhilarating and often treacherous world of scientific discovery and raises important questions about the nature of scientific progress, the role of women in science and the ethics of scientific competition.

Photograph 51 runs six performances Feb. 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 at The Marlene Boll Theatre inside the Boll Family YMCA at 1401 Broadway in Detroit. Purchase tickets online at www.DetroitMercyArts.com or by calling the DMTC ticket office at 313-993-3270.

The DMTC ticket office is open Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and is located on Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus. Individual ticket prices are $25 for adults, $18 for seniors and Detroit Mercy faculty, staff and alumni, $10 for veterans and students (ages 4-college). Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. To schedule your group, contact Sarah Rusk at 313-993-3273.

Photo: Katherine Mutschler as Rosalind Franklin in Photograph 51.

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