PUBLISHED ON FEBRUARY 26, 2025
By Olivia Cafarelli Manzi
Castle Hill Productions is kicking off Women’s History Month with the premiere of their newest show — Ada and the Engine — at the Crane Estate.
The play, written by up-and-coming playwright Lauren Gunderson, tells the groundbreaking story of Ada Lovelace, the pioneering mathematician credited with developing the first computer program.
Lovelace, the estranged daughter of Lord Byron, was a fiery, brilliant woman who defied societal norms that restricted women from pursuing careers in math and science.
But she persisted … and was encouraged by her mother’s rigorous education in logic and math.
At age 17, Lovelace met inventor Charles Babbage, and the two developed a deep friendship bonded by their mutual passion for science.
“It’s a play about relationships in the midst of scientific enlightenment,” said Kristina Grundmann, Castle Hill Productions’ theater director. “This is a show that is not about science, but what happens around it.”
“This is really about Ada’s life, her loves, the restrictions that were placed on her during the Victorian times,” Grundmann added.
The cast features Stanis Ames of Salem in the role of Ada Lovelace.
She is joined by Billerica resident Karen Dervin; Ipswich’s Christopher J. DeStefano; Julie Butters and Gary Ames, both residents of Salem; and Conor Burke of Somerville.
Since 2016, Castle Hill Productions has staged performances at the Crane Estate, carefully selecting works that complement the historic setting.
“We cast the house first,” Grundmann said. “We only put on shows that fit the essence of the estate.”
Productions are typically put on in March, at a time when the space would otherwise go unused.
“It’s a beautifully written, lovely piece of theater that I hope people will leave with a little bit of breathlessness,” she said.
Performances take place in the estate’s grand ballroom, and seating is limited. Advanced registration is recommended.
Ada and the Engine runs from Feb. 27 through March 9. It has an estimated two-hour run time, including one intermission. Lovelace’s legacy, however, will linger long after the final curtain.
Olivia Cafarelli Manzi is a student at Endicott College studying journalism. This article was produced by Olivia for the Massachusetts News Service of Endicott College in partnership with the Local News.
Massachusetts News Service 
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