A Thousand Natural Shocks follows Kennedy, whose depression is under control and whose life — a stable job, a loving marriage to Laurel — has reached a point of relative equilibrium. When the couple decides to have a child and enters the world of IVF, the process sets off a cascade of stress, grief, and uncertainty that tests both their relationship and their sense of what family means. Into this already strained household arrives a teenager from TikTok, adding an additional layer of chaos to an already precarious situation.

Written by Jacob Marx Rice, whose work has been produced in over fifteen cities across three continents and recognized by the Kennedy Center, the O'Neill, and the Black List, the play is directed by Susan Jane McDonald. The production examines the emotional and relational cost of fertility treatment through a lens of dark humor and candor.