Pope Joan, a compelling new drama by BU alumna Michelle Poynton, explores gender bias in the church. The play recounts the scandal surrounding a ninth century German woman who, legend has it, disguised herself as a man in order to be educated in Rome. There, she was so successful with her studies that she was invited to the Vatican, where she moved up the ranks to become Pope after the death of Leo IV. The production is directed by graduate directing student Tara Matkosky and features actors and designers from the BU School of Theatre. Each performance will be followed by an interactive talkback with the director, playwright, and cast, and the performance on March 7 will be preceded by a discussion on the topic “Women as Mythic Legend.” This remarkable work was developed in 2008 as part of the BU School of Theatre’s New Play Initiative, and is the School’s official entry in the prestigious Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.