By Sharyn Rothstein
Directed by Ryan Rilette
Featuring Kate Eastwood Norris and Holly Twyford
A National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere

NOW PLAYING through May 4, 2025

When a troubled teen is given a controversial book, his mother visits the local library to discuss “appropriate” reading material with the librarian. However, their reasonable discussion quickly turns into a heated confrontation, sparking a dramatic chain reaction of unexpected consequences. With both heartbreak and humor, Sharyn Rothstein offers compassion and empathy as an antidote to the deep debates that divide us. Staged in the round, this brilliant world premiere challenges us to see past our political divisions and first impressions, and asks us what it truly means to care for our children. Part of the Bonnie Hammerschlag National Capital New Play Festival.

Bad Books is produced at Round House Theatre as part of a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere. Other Partner Theaters are Florida Studio Theatre (Sarasota, Florida), Curious Theatre Company (Denver, Colorado), and Williamston Theatre (Williamston, Michigan). For more information, please visit nnpn.org.

Thank you to our sponsors:
The 2024-2025 Season is sponsored by Linda J. Ravdin and Don Shapero.
Bad Books is sponsored by Mitch & Heidi Dupler, Bonnie & Alan Hammerschlag, Rick Kasten, and Judy & Leo Zickler.

Seat Map for Bad Books

Online Program

Additional content about Bad Books, including dramaturgy and program notes, can be found in our ONLINE PROGRAM.

Cast

Kate Eastwood Norris

The Librarian/The Manager/The Editor

Kate Eastwood Norris (The Librarian/The Manager/The Editor) is happy to return to Round House Theatre, last seen in Ink, The Tempest, and A Body of Water. Locally, Kate has performed with Studio Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre, Folger Theatre, Arena Stage, and Woolly Mammoth Theatre (company member). Regional credits include roles at Berkeley Rep, Portland Center Stage, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Syracuse Stage, The Humana Festival, Gulfshore Playhouse, Florida Stage, Two River Theater, Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company, Arden Theatre Company, The Wilma Theatre, and two Humana Festivals at Actor’s Theatre of Louisville. Kate has received two Helen Hayes Awards, the Mary Goldwater Award, and the Barrymore Award for her acting and is also a 2023 recipient of the Anderson Hopkins Award for Excellence in DC Theatre.

Holly Twyford

The Mother

Holly Twyford (The Mother) returns for her fifth show at Round House Theatre and her tenth collaboration with Kate Eastwood Norris. Previous Round House productions include The Sisterhood, Living Out, Or,, for which she received a Helen Hayes nomination, and, most recently, A Doll’s House, Part 2. Holly has performed in over 80 productions in Washington, DC area theatres including Arena Stage, Ford’s Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Studio Theatre, and Signature Theatre, and nationally. She has been nominated for multiple Helen Hayes Awards and is a five-time recipient. She was honored with Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Emery Battis Award for Acting Excellence for her portrayal of Anna in Harold Pinter’s Old Times. Holly is proud to be a charter member of Studio Theatre’s Cabinet, a Ford’s Theatre Associate Artist, and a Lunt-Fontanne Fellow.

Kimberly Gilbert

The Librarian and The Mother Understudy

Kimberly Gilbert (The Librarian and The Mother Understudy) last appeared at Round House Theatre in What the Constitution Means to Me, Jennifer Who Is Leaving, and Oslo. Other RHT credits include The Book of Will, Angels in America, Uncle Vanya, The Lyons, and The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Recent credits include Marjorie Prime at Prologue, POTUS at The Arden in Philly, and A Christmas Carol at Ford’s. Kimberly has been in the DC Theatreverse since the year 2000, where she has been fortunate enough to play on the stage of Round House, as well as Ford’s Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Kennedy Center, Folger Theatre, Studio Theatre, Theater J, Forum, Mosaic, Source, Metro Stage, Spooky Action, Prologue, and, most often, Woolly Mammoth and Taffety Punk Theatres, both of which she is a proud Company Member. Kimberly is a graduate of STC Academy.