Art, community, and controversy all collide in Mill Valley this month. Marin Theatre Company brings a sharp, funny, and honestly pretty unsettling play to its stage. *Eureka Day*, written by Bay Area playwright and Tony Award winner Jonathan Spector, digs right into one of the most divisive public health debates of our time — the vaccine conversation. He does it through the lens of a quirky, consensus-driven private school in Berkeley. Running through September 21, this co-production entertains but also nods to the late Aurora Theatre in Berkeley, where the play first premiered.
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A Story Rooted in the Bay Area’s Cultural and Political Landscape
The fictional Eureka Day School sits in progressive Berkeley and runs on the idea that every decision should be unanimous. That idealism gets tested when a sudden mumps outbreak throws the school community into chaos.
The clash between science advocates and vaccine skeptics isn’t just for laughs. It mirrors real-world tensions that folks from Mill Valley to San Anselmo know all too well.
Why This Story Hits Close to Home
In a region famous for both intellectual curiosity and stubborn individualism — think Fairfax farmers markets or Bolinas activist circles — the vaccine debate isn’t just some distant news story. For Marin County audiences, Spector’s comedic but cutting approach feels painfully current. The play draws on community dialogues that have played out in town halls and neighborhood groups from Novato to Sausalito.
Bridging Theatrical Legacy with Contemporary Commentary
The Marin Theatre production also serves as a tribute to the Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley, which recently closed. Many original team members have returned for this staging, bringing authenticity and polish that first earned the play critical acclaim.
The Creative Team Behind the Curtain
Richard Olmsted’s set design nails the look of a private Bay Area school, down to the smallest details. Maggie Whitaker’s costumes could’ve come straight from a school drop-off outside a Larkspur or Corte Madera campus.
These design choices ground the satire in a reality you can almost touch, making the humor — and the tension — even sharper.
Performances That Bring the Debate to Life
Director Josh Costello leads an ensemble that makes each character feel real, no matter where they stand in the vaccine debate. The chemistry between cast members sparks both the comedy and the emotional gut-punches.
Standout Roles and Notable Character Moments
Highlights among the cast include:
- Leontyne Mbele-Mbong as Carina, a fiercely articulate pro-vaccine advocate who never backs down.
- Howard Swain as Don, the ever-optimistic principal whose faith in unity is both charming and, honestly, a little maddening.
- Charisse Loriaux as Meiko, caught between competing truths and carrying a quiet emotional weight.
- Teddy Spencer as Eli, a “tech-bro” parent who can go from awkward to hilarious chaos in seconds.
- Lisa Anne Porter as Suzanne, an anti-vaxxer whose calm exterior hides deep tension.
The Humor — and Discomfort — of Recognition
*Eureka Day* gets laughs from audiences across the country, but here in the Bay Area, the laughter feels a little different. For theatergoers from Ross to Tiburon, the situations could’ve been pulled from real PTA meetings or even a heated Nextdoor thread.
A Production Not to Miss
In the cozy setting of Mill Valley’s Marin Theatre Company, this smart, tightly-crafted play offers a night of both laughter and reflection.
It’s rare to find a production that pokes fun at our quirks and also holds up a mirror to the ways we navigate — or fumble through — deeply held beliefs.
With stellar performances and authentic design, *Eureka Day* invites us to look at ourselves with humor, humility, and maybe even a bit of discomfort.
The conversation about public health stretches from the Marin Headlands to Point Reyes Station.
This play makes me think—maybe theatre really does remain one of the most resonant ways to explore who we are as a community.
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Here is the source article for this story: Schooled on Stage: Tony-Winning ‘Eureka Day’ at Marin Theatre
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