Lived Experiences Inform Framingham Group’s Telling of Coming-of-age Story

A Common Thread Theatre Company’s November production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a story of a 15-year-old autistic girl named Chris. Chris’s investigation into the murder of her neighbor’s dog leads her to uncover secrets that change her whole world. In order to face this new reality, she must learn how to survive as an autistic person in a society that isn’t built for her.

The Framingham production of the 2015 Tony Award for Best Play is unlike any other previously staged for two reasons. Megan Lummus of Worcester is the first openly autistic person to direct the show, and Chris is played by Katherine McCrackin of Worcester, the first openly autistic actor to play Chris as a woman. McCrackin hopes to eventually be a disability advocate. Lummus and Assistant Director Amanda Holbrook are committed to handling the material in the show in a mature and educated matter and are working with the cast and crew to ensure that all involved understand the topics not only as they are presented in the script but how they affect neurodiverse people every day.

McCrackin’s goal is to do disability advocacy. She is joined on stage by nine actors from Boston, Central Massachusetts and the MetroWest, including four from Framingham (Laura Green, playing Judy, and ensemble members Jon Baril, Kristin Fehlau and Isabel Alexandre). Bryan Sabbag of Norwood, who appeared in 2022 Academy Award Winner CODA, is portraying Chris’s father, Ed; Nicki Ramshaw of Needham, a special education teacher in real life, brings that sensitivity to the role of Siobhan, Chris’s teacher. Caroline Hubbard of Waltham, Milton Rocha of East Boston and Geof Newton of Brookline round out the ensemble. The production is stage managed by Liana Vincini of Blackstone.

Tickets are available at https://www.acommonthreadtheatre.org/box-office. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for seniors and students with an ID. Performances are Nov. 10-18 at Dennison Memorial Hall at Boston Church of Christ in Framingham, located at 214 Concord Street. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. There is a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Nov. 12. For more information about tickets or how to become a member, email info@acommonthreadtheatre.org.