Mad Cow Theatre's PHOTOGRAPH 51 Opens Tonight

Mad Cow Theatre presents Photograph 51, by Anna Ziegler, opening tonight, February 20, 2015 in The Zehngebot-Stonerock Theatre as part of Season 18.

Anna Ziegler's Photograph 51 recounts the often overlooked history of one of the most groundbreaking scientists of the 20th century. A tenacious chemist in 1950s London, Rosalind Franklin captures the first images of the double helix structure of DNA. While her colleagues jockey to push her out of the frame, Rosalind continues to work tirelessly, regardless of her invisible status within the male-dominated labs. Ziegler's tale of isolation and perseverance creates a powerful ode to the woman who gave her life to science. Winner of the 2008 STAGE Award, Photograph 51 was featured in Mad Cow Theatre's inaugural Science Play Festival last season.

Last year, Mad Cow Theatre hosted its inaugural Science Play Festival during which Ziegler's Photograph 51 was one of four science-based scripts that were presented through staged readings. This year, Mad Cow is thrilled to be staging the production of Photograph 51 in the Zehngebot-Stonerock Theatre. The 2nd Annual Science Play Festival will be taking place February 27 - March 1 in The Harriett. The festival will feature four new scripts that explore the world of science.

The cast of Photograph 51 features Scott Browning as Francis Crick in his Mad Cow debut, Ryan Kim as Ray Gosling (Sunday in the Park with George), Steven Lane as Maurice Wilkins (The Drowsy Chaperone,Legacy of Light, Hedda Gabler) Jennifer Christa Palmer as Rosalind Franklin (Mrs. Warren's Profession,Private Lives, The Heiress), Adam Reilly as James Watson (The History Boys), and Peter Travis as Don Caspar (Cock, The History Boys, Mass Appeal).

Direction is by Denise Gillman (Collected Stories, Legacy of Light), set design by Rebecca Pancoast, costumes by Aubrey Hess, and lighting design by Jerry Klein.