The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington by James Ijames
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Shotgun Players presents
The recently widowed “Mother of America” lies alone in her Mount Vernon bed, ravaged by illness and attended to by the enslaved people who will be free the moment she dies. This uproarious form-shifting fever dream takes us deep into the ramifications of one of America’s original sins. Dizzying and fantastical, this Bay Area premiere from Pulitzer winner James Ijames boldly remixes this country’s dark history with a delicate balance of truth and humor.
Dizzying and fantastical
Pulitzer Prize winner Bay Area premiere
James Ijames boldly remixes this country’s dark history with a delicate balance of truth and humor.
Don’t miss these
Special performances
Jul 24, 25, 29 & 30
Pay-What-You-Can Previews
Pay what you can for any of our four preview performances.
Sat, Jul 31 at 8 PM
Thu, Aug 5 · 7 PM
MAD Night
25 and under? $15 gets you a ticket, pizza and a beer (21+) or soda. MAD Nights sell out, so don’t wait. Bring your ID.
Sun, Aug 8 · 2 PM
Haptic Tour & Audio Description
For guests who are blind or have low vision: a pre-show touch tour of the space, costumes and props, plus live audio description on headsets.
Sun, Aug 15 · 2 PM
Masked-Audience Performance
All audience members, ushers and staff wear masks. Performers are unmasked on stage.
Thursdays & Sundays
Post-Show Conversations
Stick around after every Thursday and Sunday performance, starting August 1, for a conversation about the play.
From the critics
Not to be missed.
Puts the American myth on trial.
Superbly written, emotionally compelling, morally challenging.
An extraordinary dark comedy about slavery in America… [a] theatrical discovery of the best kind – a terrific script not to be missed.
Hear from the playwright
Meet James Ijames
The Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright of Fat Ham talks about The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington.
James Ijames
Join us for our 35th!
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