The Einstein Plan is an interactive play by Donald Freed that asks, How can we change America? There's big power in small numbers when the audience answers together. Albert Einstein figured out that if only 2% of our population engages in non-violent protests, change will happen. Get tickets/read more here.

In the play's interactive format, a character simply called "The Exile" directly engages the audience and invites them to participate in creating their political future. In the second act the "Stage Manager" leads an audience discussion about what kind of participation, if any, people feel comfortable with. The choices remain in the hearts and minds of the audience; no one is forced to do anything. The audience is simply made aware of the possibility of participating directly in our political lives, whether by merely keeping abreast of current events, baking cookies for a house meeting, or by sitting in at a government facility.

ABOUT THE ACTOR AND PLAYWRIGHT

James Cromwell (The Exile) Born in Los Angeles, actor and activist James Cromwell is the son of actress Kay Johnson and John Cromwell, a blacklisted director who served as one of the first presidents of the Director's Guild. His stepmother, Ruth Nelson was a noted stage and film actress and a founding member of the New York Group Theater. He followed in the family footsteps, heading to the south after the Freedom Rides to join the Free Southern Theater; an integrated company that toured the south. He was also a member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and in the seventies, joined the Committee to Defend the Panthers, an organization set up to defend The Panther 13. James has directed at resident theatres across the country and was the founder and Artistic Director of his own company, Stage West, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He also co-directed a short film, which was shown at the London Film Festival. After returning to Hollywood, James received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar ® nomination for his memorable performance as Farmer Hoggett in the smash-hit, "Babe." Cromwell's recent motion picture work includes "L.A. Confidential," "Space Cowboys," Frank Darabont's critically acclaimed "The Green Mile," "The General's Daughter," "Snow Falling on Cedars," "The Bachelor," "The Sum of All Fears", DreamWorks SKG's "Spirit: Stallion of The Cimarron," Stephen Fears' Oscar ® nominated film "The Queen," and Oliver Stone's "W." He has earned Emmy nominations for his work on the HBO original series, "Six Feet Under," the HBO movie, "RKO 281," and the NBC drama, "ER." Cromwell has also performed in many revered plays, including "Hamlet," "The Iceman Cometh," "Devil's Disciple," "All's Well That Ends Well," "Beckett" and "Othello" in many of the country's most distinguished theatres, including the South Coast Repertory, the Goodman Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum, the American Shakespeare Festival, Center Stage, the Long Wharf Theatre and the Old Globe. He recently played A. E. Houseman in the American premiere of Tom Stoppard's "The Invention of Love" at A.C.T. in San Francisco.

In addition to his work with countless charities, and initiatives, James has served as a board member for both S.A.G. and A.F.T.R.A. and as Secretary Treasurer of S.A.G. He has been collaborating on "The Einstein Plan" since its inception.

Donald Freed (Playwright and Discussion Facilitator) was awarded the 2006 Pen Drama Prize for his "Devil's Advocate." His plays, prizes, books and films include: "Inquest" (directed by Alan Schneider); "Secret Honor" (directed by Robert Altman); "Circe & Bravo" (with Faye Dunaway, directed by Harold Pinter); "The Quartered :Man"; "Alfred and Victoria (A Life)"; "Veterans Day" (with Jack Lemmon and Michael Gambon); "The White Crow Eichmann in Jerusalem"; three Rockefeller Awards; two Louis B. Mayer Awards; Unicorn Prize; Gold Medal Award; Berlin Critics Award; NEA Award for "Distinguished Writing," Hollywood Critics Award; Jonathan R. Reynolds Prize. Donald's books include "Agony in New Haven"; "Executive Action" (novel and film with Dalton Trumbo and Mark Lane); "The Glasshouse Tapes"; "The Spymaster" (Book of the Month); "In Search of Common Ground" (with Erik Erikson, Kai Erikson, Huey P. Newton); "The Existentialism of Alberto Moravia" (with Joan Ross); "Death in Washington: The Murder of Orlando Letelier". Donald is a guest artist at the Los Angeles Theatre Center and at York Theatre Royal, York, England. He is an honorary member of the Pacific Resident Theatre in Los Angeles. Upcoming plays include 1951-2006 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in Spring 2010; and to be announced, "Hamlet (in Rehearsal), the American premiere by York Theatre Royal. Recent publications include "Hamlet (in Rehearsal)," Broadway Play Publishing; "Every Third House," Penmarin Books; and "Agony in New Haven," Figueroa Press. Donald's plays are being produced in Italy, France and England in 2010 and 2011, including "The White Crow: Eichmann in Jerusalem," "Devil's Advocate" and "The Einstein Plan."  

The Einstein Plan