One Giant Leap: Apollo 11 and the Moon Landing 50 Years On

Renowned astronauts and stars of stage and screen participate in this soaring Times event commemorating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 and humankind’s first steps on the moon.

The evening will feature the reading of a short play by Tony Award-winning author J.T. Rogers. Commissioned specifically for this event, the play weaves together transcripts of the Apollo 11 mission, Times coverage from the period and excerpts from recent interviews. The performers who will bring these moments to life include: Lauren Ambrose, Jeff Daniels, Danai Gurira, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, Dakin Matthews, and Arian Moayed. Directed by Tony winner Bartlett Sher and produced by Cambra Overend.

Following the reading, Michael Barbaro of “The Daily” will host a conversation with Michael Collins, command module pilot on Apollo 11, Peggy Whitson, the first female commander of the International Space Station, and Poppy Northcutt, the first female engineer to work in NASA’s Mission Control.