As part of a multi-year commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Civil War, the Worcester State University History and Political Science Department is featuring the one-man play, “Frederick Douglass: Stories are A Tellin’,” by Guy Peartree of Boston, Wed. October 5 at 10:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Set in 1859, when Frederick Douglass, a relentless anti-slavery orator, was being sought for arrest by the state of Virginia for his alleged activity in John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, Peartree’s one-man play encompasses Douglass’ life from his birth into slavery, his relationships and experiences on the slave plantation, his education, escape from slavery, and ascendancy as America’s foremost black abolitionist.
The 10:00 a.m. performance, which is open to the campus community and Worcester area schools, will be held in the Sullivan Auditorium. A second evening performance at 7:30 p.m. will be held in the Ghosh Science and Technology Center Auditorium (Room 102). Both performances are free and open to the public.
Peartree has been telling stories since 1989 and has performed historical characterizations of Frederick Douglass, William Brown and George Washington Carver. He has performed in museums, colleges, schools, churches and libraries throughout New England and across the country.
Born in North Carolina, Peartree is African-American with a mix of Cherokee. He has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and linguistics from University of Massachusetts and a master’s degree in religious education from Andover Newton Theological School.
In addition to the Frederick Douglass performances, the department is also hosting a series of lectures and film:
- Professor Janette Greenwood of Clark University will deliver a lecture on “Migration of Former Slaves & their Search for Equality in Worcester, Massachusetts,” Wednesday, October 26 at 2:00 p.m. in the Eager Auditorium (room 146 in the Sullivan Building.) Discussion to follow.
- “The Conspirator,” a 2010 historical film directed by Robert Redford, will be shown Wednesday, November 16 at 2:00 p.m. in the Eager Auditorium (room 146 in the Sullivan Building). The film tells the story of Mary Surratt, the only female co-conspirator charged in the Abraham Lincoln assassination and the first woman to be executed by the United States federal government. Discussion to follow. The following day, Thursday, November 17, Professor Thomas Turner of Bridgewater State University will discuss his recent consultative role in the film “The Conspirator” at 2:30 p.m. in the Eager Auditorium.
All events are free and open to the public and are part of the U.S. Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration sponsored by the department of History and Political Science at Worcester State University.