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My fellow Americans, today is a new dawn in this great country of ours. We, who have given rise to theater greats like Eugene O’Neill, Lorraine Hansberry, and Tennessee Williams, know how truly blessed we are to see live performances. But American stagecraft is at a critical juncture. Will theater become nothing more than restaged versions of Disney cinema hits and repackaged rock songs strung together with a thin story? Or could a contemporary hit play take on a more profound topic—like, perhaps, our dim political language? Find out at Woolly Mammoth Theatre’s premiere of The Totalitarians, Peter Sinn Nachtrieb’s play about a political speechwriter whose signature phrase, “freedom from fear,” might just be ambiguous enough to fill voters with hope. We love to watch fictitious politicians scheme and bloviate on Netflix. Now take the time to embrace them on the stage. The play runs June 2 to 29 at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D St. NW. $35–$77.50. (202) 393-3939. woollymammoth.net.