The Originalist

When a young, liberal, Harvard Law School graduate embarks on a nerve-wracking clerkship with fearsome conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, she discovers him to be both an infuriating sparring partner and an unexpected mentor. John Strand’s critically acclaimed drama asks the question: What does it cost us to suppress our fear and distrust, and sit down with the monsters?

Directed by Stephen O'Toole. Featuring James Ramlet as Supreme Court Justice Antonin SCALIA alongside Kalala Kiwanuka-Woernle as Scalia’s Law Clerk, CAT, and Jonah Smith as Recent Law School Graduate, BRAD. Stage managed by Lauren Volkart with design work by Nate Farley, MaryBeth Schmid, Olivia Lundsten, and Jeremy Stanbary. Weapons instruction by Mason Tyer.

Critical acclaim for The Originalist:

“[THE ORIGINALIST] depicts robust, aggressive, passionate disagreement in a context of respect and developing friendship. It accepts power and winning as measures of success, but decency and kindness as even more important measures of a person. In that regard, it feels like a play we need right now.” —Chicago Sun-Times