Avant Bard Theatre

ADA AND THE ENGINE by Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Megan Behm

Performing at Gunston Arts Center, Theatre Two

Ada Lovelace, the only legitimate child of the amorous poet Lord Byron, had a love of her own: mathematics. Well, that...plus a certain polymath-inventor, Charles Babbage, famous as “the father of the computer.” It’s true that Babbage invented the hardware--the Analytic Engine--but the language, the song, the soul of the thing, the programming: that was all Ada. From prolific playwright Lauren Gunderson (author of the inspirational Emilie, which Avant Bard produced to great acclaim in 2017), Ada and the Engine is a whimsical scientific history that once again proves the future is, and has always been, female. Megan Behm, who staged last season’s uproarious hit A Misanthrope, will return to Avant Bard to direct Ada and The Engine as part of Avant Bard’s Spring Repertory, alongside Suddenly Last Summer.

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After close consultation with Arlington County Cultural Affairs, Avant Bard Theatre will be cancelling the 2020 Spring Repertory effective immediately. This includes all future performances of both Ada and the Engine and Suddenly Last Summer.

Avant Bard is dedicated to presenting intimate, accessible theatre, but we must prioritize the health and well-being of our audiences, performers, and staff.

If you’ve purchased tickets, you will receive an email from us about next steps. Due to the high volume of patrons impacted, we ask for your patience with us at this time while we process these communications.

Finally, we’d like to acknowledge the many artists whose professional lives are deeply impacted by this cancellation and affirm our commitment to pay them. If you’d like to support us in keeping that commitment, you can make a contribution to Avant Bard here.