The Manatee Players and
Little Grey Hat Productions Present Area Premiere of
“Copenhagen” by Michael Frayn
July 9-19 < Bradenton Kiwanis Theater at Manatee Performing Arts Center
Michael Frayn’s masterful study of the complex relationship between two of the world’s greatest atomic scientists won the 2000 Tony Award for Best Play.
(Bradenton, FL) The Manatee Players and Little Grey Hat Productions present the area premiere of the play, “Copenhagen” by Michael Frayn, July 9-19 (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.), in the Bradenton Kiwanis Theater at the Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 3rd Ave. W. in Bradenton. Tickets are $22 for adults; $11 for students with I.D. To purchase tickets, call 941-748-5875 or visit https://tickets.manateeplayers.com.
“Copenhagen” explores the complex relationship between Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg, two of the world’s greatest atomic scientists. Their lives entwined with World War II, as Heisenberg worked on the German atomic program while his mentor, Niels Bohr, was instrumental in developing the atomic bomb for the United States. The play won the 2000 Tony Award for Best Play.
The director of this production, Heiko Knipfelberg, explains that “Copenhagen” is set in a “minimalistic afterlife where the spirits of Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg—and Bohr’s wife, Margrethe—try to understand the results of a fateful meeting between the two physicists in 1941. Did this meeting have anything to do with the failure of the Nazis to construct an atom bomb? The two-act drama debates theories and tries to answer that question.”
Knipfelberg says that the play raises important questions. Bohr, who was half-Jewish and deeply involved with humanitarian work, was driven out of Nazi-occupied Europe, which may have led to the success of the United States in realizing atomic power first. But was Heisenberg building a bomb for Hitler, or trying to slow development of the bomb down? “Frayn leaves these overarching questions for the audience to ponder,” says Knipfelberg. “In a realm where none of them can be hurt, or betrayed, the characters look back at their choices from many perspectives. Ultimately, they seek to be at peace with their actions, which changed the course of history forever.”
The play stars Caroline Cox as Margrethe Bohr, Dylan Jones as Werner Heisenberg, and David Yamin as Niels Bohr. The lighting and set is designed by Patrick Bedell.
“’Copenhagen’ investigates the ethical dimensions of science,” says Knipfelberg. “More than that, it’s a profoundly touching, deeply human story. It paints an indelible portrait of Werner, Niels and Margrethe. You will remember them long after the play has ended.”
About the Manatee Players
The Manatee Players seek to represent, enrich and stimulate people through the art of live theatre by providing entertainment, education and an artistic outlet. The Manatee Players and its performance venue serve as a significant cultural, educational and economic resource for the Florida Gulf Coast region. For more information, visit www.manateeperformingartscenter.com.
About Little Grey Hat Productions
Little Grey Hat Productions LLC formed in spring 2014 to present diverse and unconventional theatrical experiences in unique locations. The company is rooted in the Sarasota-Manatee area and believes that the enlightened regional theater audience deserves something meatier than the usual fare. For more information about the company, visit www.littlegreyhatproductions.com.
