Dates & Times

GO DEEPER: EUREKA DAY
Compiled by Christy Montour-Larson

Interviews & Director’s Note

• Playwright Interview – Jonathan Spector on Satire and Empathy Jonathan Spector discusses writing a satire that bridges cultural divides and its unexpected post-pandemic relevance.
  Read the KQED interview »
• What the Play Wants – American Theatre
  Explores how Eureka Day tackles ideological conflict and uses humor to foster empathy.
  Read the American Theatre article »
• Director’s Note: Read Here »

Reviews Roundup

• The New York Times describes the play as “a hilarious poison-pen satire of educational wokeism” with Broadway-scale impact. Read The New York Times review »
• Variety calls it “a cleverly staged social satire” that maintains goodwill even when some elements misfire. Read the Variety review »
• Deadline praises Eureka Day as “a shiny, insightful and damn funny little gem” that distills divisive issues into sharp comedic form. Read the Deadline review »
• The Guardian calls the play “a devilishly pleasurable satire” and praises its sharp humor and humanity. Read The Guardian review »
• Playbill provides a curated roundup of critical responses from top-tier outlets like NYT, Variety, Deadline, and The Guardian. Read the Playbill review compilation »

Consensus vs. Conflict

The school board in Eureka Day prides itself on consensus decision-making. But when crisis strikes, their well-meaning process collapses into chaos. The play asks: What happens when our ideals of harmony collide with fear, urgency, and deeply personal stakes? Through satire, Spector invites us to reflect on how communities can stay connected even when they disagree.

Explore More:

• Dangers of Consensus Decision-Making – Jurassic Parliament
  Read the Jurassic Parliament PDF » Summary: This article outlines how “informal consensus”—common in many group discussions—can inadvertently suppress dissent, pressure members toward conformity, and concentrate power in the facilitator. It emphasizes that while consensus may feel harmonious, it often leads to weak or unspoken agreement and can stifle meaningful debate. Strategies offered include ensuring everyone speaks before repeated chimes, documenting proposals clearly, and encouraging non-unanimous outcomes for complex decisions.
• Rethinking Groupthink – Psychology Today. Read the Psychology Today article » Summary: This piece reframes the concept of “groupthink”; by acknowledging its historical downsides—like policy failures and conformity-driven mistakes—while recognizing potential advantages. In fast-paced or high-pressure project contexts, a degree of group alignment can strengthen unity, expedite decisions, and maintain morale. The key lies in balancing efficiency with opportunities for critical thinking.

Public Health & Ideological Divide

Though written before COVID, the play’s mumps outbreak feels eerily prescient. Eureka Day explores enduring questions: How do we balance individual choice with community safety? What happens when fear and misinformation collide with science and empathy? These debates extend beyond vaccination into broader cultural divides about trust, privilege, and care for one another.

Explore More:

• Vaccine Hesitancy and Public Health – CDC (Data & Insights)
  Read the CDC data on vaccine hesitancy.» Summary: This CDC resource offers up-to-date maps and breakdowns of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy across U.S. regions, drawing from the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey. It highlights demographic trends, geographic hotspots, and underlying attitudes driving hesitancy—making it a foundational source for understanding local and national vaccine uptake dynamics.
• Heidi Larson, Vaccine Anthropologist – The New Yorker Read The New Yorker profile » Summary: This thoughtful profile explores how Heidi Larson, a pioneering vaccine anthropologist, unpacks the cultural, emotional, and historical roots of vaccine hesitancy. Her work shows there’s no single cause—instead, trust, rumors, past injustices, and community experiences all play a role in shaping vaccine perceptions.
• Community vs. Individual Freedom – Ethical Questions in Public Health Read the PubMed Central article on public health ethics » Summary: This academic piece investigates the enduring tension between individual liberties and the health of the community. It argues that effective public health often requires limitations on personal freedoms for the greater good—but emphasizes that transparency, ethical education, and democratic engagement are essential to maintaining legitimacy and trust.

The Role of Technology

One of the play’s most unforgettable scenes features a livestreamed parent forum that spirals into chaos. With biting humor, Eureka Day highlights how digital platforms—meant to foster transparency and connection—can instead amplify division, misunderstanding, and
outrage. How does technology change the way we communicate and disagree?

Explore More:
Read Pew Research on digital discourse »

• Digital Discourse and Civility – Pew Research
  Read Pew Research on digital discourse » Examines how social media impacts democracy and civil conversation across multiple countries. Highlights growing concerns about misinformation, polarization, and the decline of respectful debate—especially in the U.S.
• How Comment Sections Shape Debate – The Guardian Read The Guardian article » Discusses the promise and peril of online comment forums. Shows how, without thoughtful moderation, comment sections can become toxic, but also notes their potential to host meaningful dialogue when well-managed.
• Zoom Fatigue and Digital Miscommunication – Stanford Read Stanford’s research summary » Explores why video calls feel more draining than in-person interactions. Analyzes factors like constant close-up eye contact, seeing yourself on screen, reduced mobility, and increased cognitive load, and how these contribute to miscommunication.

Questions to Consider: Engaging with Eureka Day

1. Consensus and Community: The board prides itself on consensus. How does the play explore its strengths and limitations?
2. Humor as a Mirror: How did the comedy affect your engagement with serious issues?
3. Technology and Communication: How does tech help or hinder meaningful conversation?
4. Individual Choice vs. Collective Responsibility: How do you weigh personal freedom against the common good?
5. Seeing Yourself on Stage: Did you recognize yourself—or someone you know—in any character?
6. Privilege and Perspective: Did any moment challenge your assumptions about power or privilege?
7. Beyond Vaccines: What broader issues in your own life does the play reflect?
8. When Dialogue Breaks Down: At what point does respectful conversation collapse, and
why?
9. Parenting and Fear: How does the play capture the complexity of parenting in polarized
times?
10. What Stays With You? Which moment from the play will linger for you and why?

Library Resources to Enhance Your Eureka Day Experience
Curated by the Denver Public Library

READ
Gospel of Wellness by Rina Raphael — An exploration of the $4.4 trillion wellness industry, exposing how self-care marketing often exploits fears and desires for control.

WATCH
The Battle to Beat Malaria (PBS NOVA, 2023) — A riveting look at global vaccine development and the human effort to fight disease.

LISTEN
On Immunity by Eula Biss — A beautifully written exploration of vaccine fears, history, and the balance between individual purity and communal responsibility.

DOWNLOAD
Paralyzing Fear ( (1998), dir. Nina Gilden Seavey — An Emmy-winning documentary on the history of polio, belief in science, and community trust.

Hilleman: A Perilous Quest to Save the World’s Children (2016), dir. Donald Rayne Mitchell — The story of Maurice Hilleman, developer of over 40 vaccines, credited with saving millions of lives.