PowerUp Staged Reading
Margaret Chase Smith was a woman of firsts: In 1940, she was the first woman elected by the state of Maine to serve in Congress; nine years later she was the first woman the state elected to the Senate. And in 1950, she became the first senator to stand on the Senate floor and publicly rebuke Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, who rose to power using post–World War II anti-Communist hysteria and ruined the lives of those who opposed him. Margaret Chase Smith’s “Declaration of Conscience” speech was a public act of defiance at a time when both Democrats and Republicans were cowed into silence for fear of retribution. It came at a cost: She was shunned by her colleagues, challenged in a primary, all while McCarthy threatened to expose her personal secrets. Conscience is the story of a remarkable woman who stood up for what was right and refused to back down. The play explores themes of political power, integrity, and the courage it takes to speak truth to power, set against the backdrop of the American “Red Scare.”
PowerUp Staged Reading General Admission Ticket Prices:
Adult – $37
Senior (65+) – $32
Student – $22
Group – (10 or more) – Please email deb@powerstories.com for group rate
Sponsor Ticket Price:
(Includes name in playbill. Extra dollars are gift to theatre to continue to produce important true stories.)
- Powerstories Supporter – $100
Dates:
- Friday, August 14 – 7:30PM
- Saturday, August 15 – 1 PM
- Sunday, August 16 – 3 PM
Sponsored by:
Volunteer for Front of House and See Predictor for FREE!
Cast
Roxanne Fay
as
Sen. Margaret Chase Smith
Stephen Riordan
as
Sen. Joseph McCarthy
Anna Lauren Sperduto
as
Jean Kerr
Mike Bringuier
as
William Lewis
Creative Team
Clareann Despain
Director
Brianna Brand
Production Manager
Ami Sallee
Costume Design
Karla Hartley
Lighting Design
Chloe Correa
Stage Manager
BEYOND THE STORY: CONSCIENCE-
AUGUST 2, 4PM ZOOM
Professor Ellen Schreker
Before the PowerUp Staged Reading of Conscience, join us on Zoom for a nonpartisan educational session, focused on Senator Margaret Chase Smith’s 1950 “Declaration of Conscience” and the broader lessons of McCarthyism. It’s a conversation about democratic principles, civil liberties, and political courage hosted by McCarthyism expert Professor Ellen Shrecker.
