The play takes place in three acts. It begins with Girl's small act of rebellion – refusing to speak or move. Her action/inaction sparks a need for change in each character. Over three acts, their home becomes a living nightmare as they try to make their dreams come true.

In the race to create nuclear weapons, multiple nations overlooked the safety and health of individual workers. They didn’t enforce safety procedures, didn’t purchase safety equipment and often times kept the dangers of working with radioactive materials secret from their employees. “Atomic Town” is a surrealistic look at the atomic accidents that ensued.

The play follows Carl, a nuclear plant worker, and Tessa, a spokesperson for Radium Water, as they gain their portion of the American Dream and the American Nightmare. Carl is given one huge dose of radiation in an industrial accident while Tessa is slowly poisoned by drinking Radium Water, a 1940s health product (based on real products available at the time). Carl’s body breaks down completely while Tessa’s reaches a new kind of normal. Carl becomes an experiment. Tessa is destined to live a life of pain and destitution. The subject matter of “Atomic Town” is dark, but there are moments of levity. The style is absurdist/surrealist using puppetry, dance, and humor.

This play was developed in a classroom setting at The Barrow Group and HB Studio. It was given a reading by Hot Metal Arts Collective.

Three bar regulars argue over a painting done by the bartender's son. They see themselves, their true selves, in his work.