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Genetic engineering and its promise of flawless children forms the basis of “Perfect,” a new play by Jonathan Luskin. The drama will be presented as a table reading by Catalyst: A Theatre Think Tank (C3T) in collaboration with the UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance and the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art on Feb. 17 at 6 p.m.

Three interwoven stories, six actors and 13 characters explore the boundless desire for flawless children and the impossibility of objectively defining what that means. A cell biologist and her brilliant, wheelchair-using son discover their research is being used to clean disabilities from the human genome. A young couple turns to an app to design the “perfect” child. Perfect is a dive into the brave new world of genetic engineering. 

“Perfect” is directed by alumna JanLee Marshall (M.F.A, dramatic art. ’15) and features actor Danny Gomez, recipient of the 2020 Media Access Award, which recognizes depictions of disability that are accurate, inclusive and multifaceted. The cast also includes undergraduate students Sophie Brubaker, Cheryl Kuo, Kyle Nagasawa and Aubrey Schoeman. Undergraduate student Sam Votrian is the stage manager.

The virtual table reading is free. 

The UC Davis College of Letters and Science’s Department of Theatre and Dance produces the 2020-2021 Catalyst season with support from the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, Bike City Theatre Company, Southern Utah University and San Francisco Youth Theatre.

Catalyst productions may contain adult situations and language.

For details about other events, visit catalyst3t.com.