By Bess Wohl
Directed by Taibi Magar
Produced in association with Baltimore Center Stage
October 9 – 25, 2026
“An Extraordinary Must-See”
— The Washington Post
“An Unadulterated Pleasure. Powerfully Moving and Funny. When These Women Talk, We Want to Hear Every Word.”
— The New York Times
Before movements had hashtags, before conversations moved online, women gathered in living rooms, community centers, and rec halls to tell the truth about their lives.
Set in a small-town Ohio rec center in the early 1970s, LIBERATION follows a group of women who come together for a consciousness-raising meeting—unsure what to expect, but certain they need one another. As stories unfold about work, marriage, motherhood, race, desire, and ambition, the room becomes a place of courage, laughter, conflict, and possibility.
Moving between past and present, the play asks what those gatherings made possible—and what they left unfinished. What does freedom really look like? Who gets to claim it? And what do we inherit from the generations who came before us?
Funny, intimate, and deeply human, LIBERATION reminds us that change begins when people come together. This is where stories are shared. This is where ideas are challenged. This is where we gather.
Three Things to Know: 2026/27 Season
Bess Wohl is a playwright and filmmaker. Her plays have been produced on and off Broadway, regionally, and internationally and her feature film debut, BABY RUBY, starring Noémie Merlant and Kit Harington, premiered at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival and was released by Magnolia Pictures. She also wrote for the Apple TV+ series, “Extrapolations,” created by Scott Z. Burns.
Second-wave feminism was a period of feminist activity that began in the early 1960s. It lasted roughly two decades and aimed to increase women’s equality by building on the feminist gains of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Read more about how this movement inspired LIBERATION and its recent Broadway run.
LIBERATION made its Broadway debut at James Earl Jones Theatre, bringing Bess Wohl’s deeply personal and politically resonant story to one of the most prominent stages in American theatre.
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Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 3PM
Join PTC Co-Artistic Director Taibi Magar and a local organizer for a conversation on the history of the women’s liberation movement in Philadelphia — and how that history speaks to Bess Wohl’s Liberation, PTC’s current production. Together, they’ll explore the movement’s roots in our city, its unfinished work, and what it means to stage this story here, now.
Special Programming beginning one hour prior to the performance.
Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 7PM
Join us for a night of reflection and reimagining that explores the legacy of the Combahee River Collective, whose groundbreaking 1977 statement on Black feminism and intersectionality expanded the fight for liberation beyond the movement depicted on stage.The evening will feature a poetry performance and a discussion about How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective with a local scholar. We’ll close with a freedom dreaming activity, imagining the futures we’re fighting for.
Special Programming beginning one hour prior to the performance.
Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 2PM
Arrive early and step into the world of the play before the curtain rises. Browse local vendors, enjoy live music in the lobby, and settle in for a reading of an original short story by a local author, exploring the bonds between mothers and daughters.
Special Programming beginning one hour prior to the performance.
Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 2PM
Arrive early and step into the world of the play before the curtain rises. Browse local vendors, enjoy live music in the lobby, and connect with local activist organizations working on issues connected to the themes of the show.
Special Programming beginning one hour prior to the performance.
Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 3PM
Join us for a multigenerational discussion about what it means to inherit a fight — and what it costs to keep fighting it. In the spirit of consciousness-raising groups, panelists — local organizers, scholars, and storytellers — will explore what’s been won, what’s been rolled back, and what’s still unfinished. How do we hold space for the anger, exhaustion, and hope that come with doing this work decade after decade — and how do we pass it forward without losing what came before?
Special Programming beginning immediately after the performance.
Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 2PM
This performance offers live audio description for patrons who are blind or have low vision. Through a wireless headset, audience members receive a spoken account of the visual elements of the production, including actions, costumes, and scenery.
Advanced Reservation Highly Recommended for Headset Use.
Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 3PM
This performance includes open captioning, displaying the spoken dialogue, sound effects, and other audio elements in real time on a screen visible from select seating areas. The open captioning machine will be located at the front of the right side Orchestra section. For the best viewing experience of the captions, we recommend seating in Rows C–D of the right Orchestra.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 1PM
This performance features live American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation by certified interpreters. Reserved seating is available to ensure optimal sightlines to the interpreters.
Run Time
Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.
Age Recommendation
Ages 16+
Contains strong language, mature themes, and nudity.
Content Advisory
Please be advised: This production contains adult language, nudity, and brief references to abuse/assault. The performance also includes the use of herbal cigarettes and theatrical haze effects.
Phone Advisory
Phone Advisory
To protect the privacy of our performers and ensure a distraction-free theatre experience, this event will be phone-free. Upon arrival, phones will be secured in Yondr pouches that will be unlocked at the end of the performance. You will maintain possession of your phone at all times.
If you are using your device to access captioning or audio description services, you will be asked to cover your device’s cameras with the provided options, or you may check out a device from our front-of-house team.
Anyone seen using a device during the performance will be required to leave the theatre immediately without a refund. We encourage you to bring a debit or credit card for any purchases inside the theatre.
Thank you for helping us create a distraction-free experience for all audiences.
If you have questions about the phone-free policy for this production, please contact the Philadelphia Theatre Company Box Office at 215-985-0420 or email boxoffice@philatheatreco.org
Questions?
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Underwriters
Rhonda & David Cohen
The Ann B. Ritt Charitable Foundation
Honorary Producers
Gayle & David Smith
Shel & Karen Thompson
Vibhat Nair & Jing Wang
Steven Engelmyer & Lisa Wershaw
Community Partners
