Conscience at Powerstories Theatre @Stageworks Theatre

Powerstories Theatre’s PowerUp staged reading of Conscience tells the story of Senator Margaret Chase Smith, a groundbreaking public servant who chose principle during one of the most fear-driven periods in American history. At the height of the Red and Lavender Scare, Smith became the first senator to stand on the Senate floor and openly challenge Senator Joseph McCarthy, whose investigations and accusations upended lives and fueled a climate of intimidation.

The play explores the personal cost of her 1950 “Declaration of Conscience,” delivered at a time when both parties feared retaliation. Smith defended democratic values while navigating a political environment that targeted LGBTQIA+ federal workers, including her own aide Bill Lewis, who faced scrutiny and slurs as McCarthy’s influence grew.

Directed by Clareann Despain and featuring Roxanne Fay as Smith, Conscience reveals the courage required to speak when silence offered safety. It invites audiences to consider how fear-based policies shape communities and how one determined voice can influence the course of a nation.