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Mary Brown, Abolitionist in Sheffield
Celebrate Black History Month with the members of the Sheffield Historical Society on Friday, February 14 by attending the program Mary Brown, Abolitionist with Kathleen Thomas. This is a first-person dramatic monologue, spanning the years 1833 through 1860. It begins with the courtship of John Brown and Mary Ann Day, and culminates in the aftermath of the ill-fated raid on Harper's Ferry, Virginia. It reveals the personal and public lives of John and Mary Brown, from Mary's point of view. The play is a fascinating lesson in American history, and it raises difficult questions: Is it ever morally permissible, but sometimes politically necessary, to eradicate injustice through force? A question-and-answer period follows.
Mary Brown was a quiet, stoical woman whose wisdom, courage, and contributions to the abolitionist cause have been all but ignored by the biographers of John Brown and the writers of history. Kathleen Thomas weaves Mary Brown's personal story into the national setting and compels today's audience to confront these timeless issues.
Kathleen Thomas is a writer, editor and performer from Lake Placid, NY. Her writing includes radio, television, print media and poetry, which has been published internationally. Thomas has performed throughout New York and New England. She has presented Mary Brown at theaters such as the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, at colleges including SUNY, Plattsburg, and at libraries, museums, and numerous festivals.
This family program, suitable for ages 10 and up, is free and open to the public (donations accepted). It begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Room of Old Parish Church in Sheffield; for more info call 413-229-2694.
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