A powerful world premiere about science, power, and the women who paid the price for progress.
In the mid‑20th century, a radical dream begins to take shape: a simple pill that would give women full control over their reproductive futures. Championing this groundbreaking idea are feminist activist Margaret Sanger, scientist Gregory Pincus, gynecologist John Rock, and philanthropist Katharine McCormick—visionaries working under intense secrecy amid legal, scientific, and religious roadblocks. Meanwhile, in Puerto Rico, clinical trials raise ethical questions, as the lives and bodies of women like Ramona Delgado are exploited in the quest for scientific advancement.
Commissioned and developed by TimeLine and based on the book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jonathan Eig (King: A Life), this world premiere explores the transformative power of vision and invention, alongside the costs of pursuing both by any means necessary.
The commission and development of The Birth of the Pill was supported in part by the Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation.
The Birth of the Pill runs approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes with no intermission
READ CONTENT ADVISORY: To learn more about the specific content and themes of this production, please visit the content advisory page.
The best way to see and save on The Birth of the Pill and our entire 2026-27 30th Anniversary season is with a TimeLine FlexPass! LEARN MORE