Word for Word and Z Space present
Assimilation
Stories by E.L. Doctorow & Tatyana Tolstaya
Directed by Rotimi Agbabiaka
Oct 14 - Nov 8, 2026
in Z Below
This fall, Word for Word brings two short stories to the stage. Two protagonists, two unsettled lives, and one question underneath both: when everything around you asks you to change, do you?
In Doctorow’s “Assimilation,”, Ramon is offered a promotion and cash which could pay for film school if he agrees to enter into a green-card marriage with his boss’s niece. When he agrees, he gets more than he bargained for.
In Tolstaya’s “Smoke and Shadows,”, a Russian professor living in the U.S. navigates her professional life, her intimate relationships, and the mysteries of culture. Told with Tolstaya’s sharp, restrained wit, the story zeros in on the experience of living in a new culture and the confusions and imbalance that can cause.
Schedule
Previews: Wed 10/14 and Thur 10/15, 7pm, Fri 10/16 8pm
Opening Night: Sat 10/17 8pm
Run of Show: 10/18 - 11/8 | Wed & Thurs, 7pm | Fri & Sat, 8pm | Sun, 2pm
Word for Word is proud to support the Children’s Book Project, which provides books to children, advancing equity in literacy, learning, and life. Please bring a new or gently used children’s book to donate during the run of the show, and help support this worthy cause. Learn more here.
