Premiere Stages will present a free public reading of Deborah Brevoort’s “”My Lord, What a Night,” Nov. 13-15 at Kean University in Union.
In the 1930s, Marian Anderson had established herself as a popular concert attraction, singing opera arias, spirituals and other material throughout the country. Because she was an African-American, though, she was not welcome in certain hotels and restaurants.
Because of this, Albert Einstein invited her to stay at his house when she came to Princeton to perform. This incident inspired Deborah Brevoort’s new play “My Lord, What a Night,” which will receive three readings at Kean University in Union, Nov. 13-15.
The play was commissioned by Premiere Stages, in partnership with the Liberty Hall Museum, through the Liberty Live program, which supports playwrights who want to write about events in Garden State history. One play is commissioned every two years.
Premiere Stages producing artistic director John J. Wooten and resident dramaturg Christine Scarfuto will moderate discussions with Brevoort after each reading. Wooten said, in a press release, that this is part of the play’s “development process,” and that Premiere Stages will present a full production of the play in October 2016.
Brevoort’s previous plays include “King Island Christmas” and “Coyote Goes Salmon Fishing.”
The readings will take place Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 14 and 15 at 3 p.m.; visit kean.edu/premierestages.
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