WCPT 820 Interview: Playwright Jessica Huang

Patti Vasquez is joined by Jessica Huang, playwright of “The Birth of the Pill,” having its world premiere at TimeLine Theatre through October 4th.

Here is a brief summary of the conversation:

- Timeline Theatre commissioned the play after pursuing the project for more than a decade.

- Jessica described it as a play that is "in conversation" with Jonathan Eig’s "Birth of the Pill" book, rather than a direct adaptation of it.

- Research and collaboration with Eig, Puerto Rican community members, historians, and Jessica’s husband shaped the portrayal of Puerto Rican women who were coerced into early pill trials.

- The play examines how the pill expanded women’s ability to pursue education, careers, pleasure, and control over parenthood.

- Jessica said the production reflects the vulnerability of reproductive rights after the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, while remaining funny, intimate, and accessible.

- The Chicago production runs through October 4 at Timeline Theatre’s new Uptown location.

Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).

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