Photo courtesy of Salamander Middleburg
Salamander Middleburg Library
Salamander Middleburg, just 50 miles west of Alexandria, is hosting an intimate preview reading of The American Five, a new play about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the visionary circle who helped craft the “I Have a Dream” speech.
Before its world premiere at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C., guests are invited to attend a special preview on Saturday, Aug. 23 from 7-9 p.m. in The Library at Salamander Middleburg, located at 500 Pendleton St., in Middleburg.
Written by Chess Jakobs and directed by Aaron Posner, The American Five follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, Bayard Rustin, Stanley Levison and Clarence B. Jones as they navigate surveillance, risk and doubt to craft a message that would move a nation. With urgency and insight, this reading pulls back the curtain on the humanity, strategy and sacrifice behind a pivotal civil rights milestone.
The event will include an intimate wine reception with passed hors d’oeuvres, a staged reading of The American Five featuring Ro Boddie (Martin), Renea S. Brown (Coretta), Stephen Conrad Moore (Bayard), Aaron Bliden (Stanley) and Yao Dogbe (Clarence) and an engaging Q&A with the actors, playwright Chess Jakobs and director Aaron Posner.
Following the reading, enjoy an engaging Q&A with the playwright and director as they explore how five voices helped shape the soul of a nation.
Tickets are $165 per guest, and reservations are required. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.squadup.com/events/fords-theater-presents-a-preview-reading-of-the-american-five?legacy=0
The American Five brings to life a behind-the-scenes story of how the Civil Rights movement changed the soul of a nation.
The American Five was commissioned as part of The Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commissions, designed to serve as an artistic incubator for stories about unsung heroes responsible for changing the course of civil rights and equality in American life. All five actors in the production are making their Ford’s Theatre debuts, bringing fresh energy and new voices to this powerful world premiere.
