Created & Presented by
Pig Iron Theatre Company
at Plays and Players Theatre
June 13-28, 2026
Learn more about the show and buy tickets here.
During the War of Independence, the British feared that Benjamin Franklin could control the weather. But what if that were true? In an alternate universe where Franklin’s most powerful inventions have been hidden for centuries, two high school prodigies must race against time to protect Franklin’s undiscovered technology from shadowy forces.
Set amid iconic Philadelphia landmarks, Franklin’s Key blends our city’s rich history with larger-than-life characters, sharply choreographed movement, and breathtaking stage illusions to create a pulse-pounding, brainy delight for adventurous theatergoers of all ages.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Franklin’s Key blends the city’s rich history with larger-than-life characters, sharply choreographed object transformation, and breathtaking stage illusions by Skylar Fox (Broadway’s Harry Potter, Back to the Future) to create a pulse-pounding, brainy delight of a show. Pig Iron’s work has been called “inventive” for two decades—now we celebrate Philadelphia’s history of invention with a visually stunning production that transforms our hometown into a tapestry of puzzles to be unlocked by adventurous theatergoers.
Co-writers Dan Rothenberg and Robert Quillen Camp (Pay Up, Chekhov Lizardbrain) weave echoes of Stranger Things and National Treasure into this love letter to Philadelphia. Historic landmarks like the Museum of Art, City Hall, Christ Church Burial Ground, and the Wanamaker Organ become portals to adventure in this intricate and delightful play for adults and children (8+).