The Birth of the Pill

by Jessica Huang
based on the book by Jonathan Eig
directed by Sandra Marquez

World Premiere

September 2 – October 4, 2026

at TimeLine Theatre,
5035 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL 60640

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
 
Buy Tickets
Use Your FlexPass

Cast

Production Team

Understudies

* Member of Actors Equity Association

# Member of United Scenic Artists

~ Member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society

+ TimeLine Company Member

^ TimeLine Associate Artist

§ TimeLine Playwrights Collective

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

Discussions & Events

  • THE BIRTH OF THE PILL: Company Member Discussion
    Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 4pm

    Join us for an informal chat with TimeLine’s Company Members after today’s performance.

    Read More
  • THE BIRTH OF THE PILL: PRE-Show Discussion
    Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 6:30pm

    Join us for an informal sneak peek into this production with members of the production team.

    Read More
  • THE BIRTH OF THE PILL: Post-Show Discussions
    Various Dates

    Join us for informal post-show discussions with members of the production team and cast.

    Read More
  • THE BIRTH OF THE PILL: Sunday Scholars
    Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 4pm

    This one-hour post-show panel discussion features experts on the themes of the play.

    Read More
  • Audio Described Performance of THE BIRTH OF THE PILL
    Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 2pm

    Featuring audio description of visuals during the performance via individual headset.

    Read More
  • Open Captioned Performances of THE BIRTH OF THE PILL
    Friday, October 2 at 7:30 pm & Saturday, October 3 at 2pm

    Featuring a text display of words and sounds heard during the performance.

    Read More
  • ASL Interpreted Performance of THE BIRTH OF THE PILL
    Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 7:30pm

    Featuring ASL interpretation during the performance.

    Read More