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AAAS and The Studio Theatre Sponsor Special Performances of The Life
of Galileo.
AAAS and The Studio Theatre in Washington, DC, are teaming up to present
several performances of the play, The
Life of Galileo, and other programs for local scientists, their
families, and high school students. The
play, written by Bertolt Brecht and adapted by playwright Sir David
Hare, debuted in London.
The Life of Galileo explores the classic struggle between religious
and scientific worldviews and illuminates the challenges that Galileo
experienced in advancing the unconventional idea that the earth revolved
around the sun. When introducing his adaptation of the play in London,
David Hare wrote that "Brecht's principal aim is to tell the story of
a man who comes to realize he has been ethically unequipped to deal with
the consequences of his own genius. But Brecht's own genius is to turn
the tragedy outwards and ask how things might have been otherwise." It
is a story as timely today as it was centuries ago.
 Special
Matinee Performance for Scientists and Their Families, December 7 SOLD
OUT
On December 7, 2003, beginning at 2:30pm, AAAS will sponsor a performance
of the play, followed by a reception with several of the actors. Tickets
for this special showing are available at a reduced price at either $27
or $30, depending on the seating.
Special
Student Matinees
AAAS is also coordinating two matinee performances for students from
several Washington, DC high schools, one on November 25 and the other
on December 3, 2003. After each performance, the actors will return to
the stage to discuss the play with the students and answer questions.
To help prepare students in advance for the performance, AAAS is assisting
The Studio Theatre in producing a Study Guide for the play that will include
background information on Galileo and the times in which he lived, a description
of the adaptation by David Hare, and study questions to help stimulate
discussion in the classroom. A $30 contribution will help send a student
to the theater. For more information, visit the AAAS
Development Office website.
Public Program
on The Life of Galileo
In conjunction with the weekend performances on November 8th and 9th
The Studio Theatre will offer four seminars on topics related to the play.
These include: Galileo, the myth and the man; science and religion; science
and society; the making of the production. AAAS is assisting in the development
of the first three of these seminars. See here.
AAAS Public
Lecture on "Galileo and the Church: The Myth and the Reality"
In conjunction with The Studio Theatre's presentation of Brecht's The
Life of Galileo, the AAAS Program of Dialogue on Science, Ethics,
and Religion is devoting the November 13th lecture by Annibale Fantoli
of Victoria University to a presentation of current Galilean scholarship.
In addition, Professor Fantoli will provide an assessment of the conclusions
reached in 1992 by a Commission appointed by Pope John Paul II to "coordinate
the research of theologians, scientists and historians which would help
to further clarify the events which occurred between Galileo and the Church."
More information about this and other lectures in the Dialogue Program's
fall series can be found on the
Program's website.
AAAS is the world's largest general science association, whose membership
represents many fields, from physics and biology to history and philosophy.
The eclectic interests of our members is one of the strengths of the Association,
and we are delighted to join with The Studio Theatre, whose commitment
to artistic excellence serves the diverse communities of Washington, to
offer these unique opportunities that combine science and theater in ways
that are both entertaining and provocative to local area students and
scientists.
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Actor Ted van Griethuysen,
photo by Scott Berg
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