Thank You To Everyone Who Helped Make History at
AMERICAN MONKEYS​
Our Re-CREATION of the SCOPES MONKEY TRIAL
In honor and celebration of the trial's 100th anniversary (July 1925-July 2025)
​LISTEN TO AMERICAN MONKEYS (AND LEARN MORE) HERE​​
AND NOW
JOIN US AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THESE ISSUES
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November 10th, 6 p.m.
At the San Diego Central Library
Neil Morgan Auditorium (330 Park Blvd.)
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"SCIENCE HAS RULES."
ABOUT "THE DOVER PANDA TRIAL": Co-written by John de Lancie (Q) and Kristen Tregar (Ph.D), "The Dover Panda Trial" is a radio-style play based on the actual transcripts and surrounding footage from the 2005 trial, Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School Board—where the school board in Dover, Pennsylvania was sued for requiring the teaching of a new “science” called “Intelligent Design” alongside Darwinian evolution in the ninth-grade science classroom.
ABOUT THE READING: Join New Fortune at the San Diego Central Library for a one-night-only staged reading of "The Dover Panda Trial" starring John de Lancie (as Judge Jones) and an incredible ensemble of actors directed by New Fortune's A.D., Richard Baird.
The reading will be followed by a brief panel discussion and Q&A.
And an American Monkeys book sale at this event will benefit our public libraries.
FOR PLANNING: The reading is FREE to attend; donations are welcome ($20 suggested).
The play is ~1:15 long. The Q&A must wrap by 8 p.m. (library hours).
Parking is free for 2 hours with library validation.
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Public Supports Makes This Public Programming Possible
These events are free but the artists and staff still need to get paid for their time and expertise.
When you contribute here, you help take care of some honest-to-goodness art-makers;
You open the door for more people to attend thought-provoking artist-made experiences;
You make a difference you can see in the culture of your community.
TAKE A MOMENT TO Contribute To New Fortune's Public Programming​
AND NOW
MEET THE AUTHORS...​
John de Lancie: John de Lancie has enjoyed an eclectic career. He is especially proud of his work developing programs for symphony orchestras, including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Montreal, and Sydney, to name a few.
He was also the co-owner—with Leonard Nimoy—of Alien Voices, a production company dedicated to dramatizing classic science fiction.
While widely recognized for his roles in Breaking Bad and, most iconically, as “Q” in Star Trek, de Lancie’s interests extend far beyond the screen.
His commitment to science education and secular activism began after touring the country with Ed Asner in a stage production about the Scopes Monkey Trial. That experience opened his eyes to the fervent opposition some religious organizations have mounted against the teaching of evolution.
Out of this passion, The Dover Panda Trial was born—a play co-written with Kristen Tregar. De Lancie will perform in this compelling play for one-night-only at the San Diego Central Library.
​Kristen Tregan: Kristen Tregar received her PhD in Theatre from UC San Diego. She holds a BA in Biology from Bryn Mawr College, an MS in Forensic Science from CUNY—John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and an MA in Educational Theatre from NYU—Steinhardt.
She spent 15 years in New York, where she taught science and drama for 7 years at an independent school before relocating to San Diego.
Her experience as a dramaturg has included the development of new plays and films, including this play, which she co-wrote with John de Lancie: The Dover Panda Trial.
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Previously, by The New Fortune Theatre Co.
NEWS from when NEW FORTUNE last SMASHED onto STAGE...
(Literally, we SMASHED that window pane. After doing a lot of R&D with smash glass notably involving vacuum chambers...)
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New Fortune Won 2024 San Diego Craig Noel Award for
OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE: RICHARD BAIRD, PUBLIC ENEMY
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“Nothing topped the visceral thrills of watching this edge-of-the-seat thriller…”
UNION TRIBUNE: Top 10 San Diego County theater and opera productions of 2023
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“Public Enemy, New Fortune Theatre Company. This is the only production on this list that I saw twice…”
STAGE WEST: The Best in San Diego Theater for 2023
“Baird’s high-wire performance in the 90-minute thriller was the best, and most fearless, performance I saw all year, and the bare-bones physical production…outshone many of the big-budget shows I saw at theaters 10 times the size.
This theater company has no home theater and no season subscription, and it only produces about one show each year. But I’ve learned that anything New Fortune produces is a must-see that almost always ends up on my “best of the year” list.
UNION TRIBUNE: Year in review: 5 memorable events in San Diego theater in 2023
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Review: ‘Public Enemy’ an edge-of-the-seat thriller about one man taking on the world
"...a tour de force performance... raw, furious, often funny and ultimately devastating.
It’s must-watch theater.
“Public Enemy” is thought-provoking, entertaining and definitely worth seeing before it closes on July 2."
- Pam Kragen
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"Relentless, edge-of-your-seat...
This thought-provoking piece strikes with a visceral, volatile message that gut-slams into the reality of today’s politics...
Do see this play!"
- Jenni Prisk
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"It's thrilling.
It's a triumphant performance.
New Fortune Theatre Company's PUBLIC ENEMY is remarkable... rich with spirited performances... consistently entertaining... you come out of the show drained from the emotional investment... but at the same time on a high from the energy of the production."
-David Coddon
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"Intensely Relevant."
-Cassiopeia Guthrie
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"Perfect... Powerful... Painful."
Alejandra Enciso-Dardashti
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"Formidable... A riveting descent...
...The idea [that] truth is dangerous to the “greater good” as defined by those in power has always been a relevant one."
- ErinMarie Reiter
Broadway World Review: PUBLIC ENEMY at New Fortune Theatre Company
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"...One of the best shows I’ve seen all year — and that’s counting the eight Broadway shows I attended...
New Fortune Theatre Company is presenting “Public Enemy,” a thrilling, 90-minute adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s “An Enemy of the People,” in the small theater at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Point Loma.”
Director and star Richard Baird delivered some of the best acting I’ve seen in 2023 for an audience of maybe 25 people. Baird, and New Fortune, deserve a much bigger audience and more donors."​
-Pam Kragen
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