Jessica Huang Playwright

Sandra Marquez * ~ Director

Jonathan Eig Author

Cast

Janet Ulrich Brooks * + Margaret Sanger

Rammel Chan * Min Chueh Chang

Mitchell J. Fain * Goody Pincus/Jonathan Eig

Mary Beth Fisher * Katharine McCormick

María Victoria Martínez * Ramona Delgado and others

David Parkes + John Rock

Production Team

Maren Robinson + Dramaturg

Florence Borowski Audio / Video Superviso
Regina García # Scenic Designer
Christine Pascual # Costume Designer
Conchita Avitia Lighting Designer
Matthew Chapman Sound Designer
Saskia Bakker Properties Designer
Mike Tutaj # Projections Designer
Toranika Washington Intimacy Director
Raquel Torre Movement Director
Liza Ann Acosta Dramaturg
Gianni Carcagno Stage Manager
Olivia Sullam * Assistant Stage Manager
Lili Bjorklund Assistant Stage Manager Sub
Dina Spoerl Dramaturgical Display Designer
Gabriela Rojo Assistant Scenic Designer
Eric Guy Assistant Costume Designer/Wardrobe Run Crew
Amina Gilbert Assistant Lighting Designer
Devin Meseke Assistant Properties Designer
Heesook Lee Assistant Projections Designer
Jessica Kuehnau Wardell Scenic Charge Artist
Lucy Elkin Costume Supervisor
Megan E. Pirtle Wig and Hair Coordinator
Mark Brown Lighting Supervisor
Melanie Coffey Script Supervisor
Hanna Smaglis Assistant Stage Manager Sub / Run Crew

Understudies

Zach Bloomfield Goody Pincus / Jonathan Eig

Abrial Bonilla Ramona Delgado and others

Patrice Egleston Katharine McCormick

William Ryder John Rock

Denise Smolarek Margaret Sanger

Mark Tacderas Min Chueh Chan

Features

The New York Times

September 7, 2026

Feelings of hope, or loss, or grief, are especially vulnerable to omission from history, in part because they’re not so easily documented….Is it possible that unrecorded history is just as important as recorded history? And if it is, what can we do about it? This is what Ms. Huang explores in her version of The Birth of the Pill.

—Jonathan Eig

Read the full essay

Newcity

September 2, 2026

It’s about the invention of the birth control pill, about scientists and activists coming together and dreaming up something that was really impossible and figuring out how to make it happen. And it’s also about a woman who represents the women it was tested on who hasn’t really made it into the history books, even though I think she’s equally important or more important than the people who invented this thing.

—Jonathan Eig

Read the full conversation

Reviews

Let's Play Theatrical Reviews

September 13, 2026

★★★★…The Birth of the Pill is that one must-see play of the year…a masterful combination of wit balanced with powerful and poignant dialogue, had the audience enthralled.

—Rick McCain

Chicago Stage and Screen

September 14, 2026

Deadly serious and highly entertaining…this is a must see play for anyone who is an adult. It shows how life changing science is built on personalities being in the right time and place and connecting with each other, money, compromise and sheer dumb luck for it all to come together.

—Angela Allyn

Chicago On Stage

September 15, 2026

TimeLine Theatre’s world premiere of The Birth of the Pill is part history lesson, part inventive comedy, part provocative drama, and fully not to be missed.

—Karen Topham

Around the Town Chicago

September 11, 2026

a very special world premiere play…told by a cast of six amazing performers…this is a piece that will cause you to think

—Alan Bresloff

The Fourth Walsh

September 11, 2026

An eye-opener about the past and present…The Birth of the Pill is a fascinating portrayal of what it takes to move a controversial idea into a universal solution. As reproductive and women’s rights continue to be challenged and limited, this play inspires us to continue the fight for the next generation of women.   

—KT Walsh

Buzz Center Stage

September 11, 2026

The Birth of the Pill is a story worthy of telling and seeing. It was humorous, moving, challenging, and overall compelling.

—Kendall Guimond-Royzen

Curtain Call Chicago

September 11, 2026

A thoughtful, timely and ethically challenging addition to Chicago’s fall theater season…the history and the impact on our very existence, not to mention the incredible performances of this cast, clearly earn The Birth of the Pill an important place as essential must-see theater.

—Paul Lisnek

PicksInSix

September 12, 2026

Fascinating and informative…smartly directed by Sandra Marquez with a top drawer cast that includes the outstanding talents of Janet Ulrich Brooks as Margaret Sanger, Mary Beth Fisher as Katharine McCormick and Mitchell J. Fain, playing both Dr. Gregory Goodwin “Goody” Pincus and the author Eig,

—Ed Tracy

Chicago Theatre Review

September 13, 2026

As always at TimeLine Theatre, history comes alive in Sandra Marquez’s excellent production. The story’s told by six talented actors who truly know their craft and how to play comedy.

—Colin Douglas

Hyde Park Herald

September 14, 2026

Informative and entertaining…all the performances are distinctive but, along with Brooks, Fisher stands out. Her millionairess is swathed in furs (costumes by Christine Pascual) and entitlement, and the scenes between the two women are hilarious. Parkes also deserves a special mention, because his John Rock makes a notable entrance in the buff and remains cocky throughout.

—Anne Spiselman