Historic Documents by Lincoln & Douglass On View at MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY, 2/12

The Working Theater (25th Anniversary Season), Mark Plesent Producing Director, is pleased to announce a special addition to the Friday, February 12 performance of Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: from Douglass to Deliverance, created and performed by André De Shields. In honor of the 201st anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth, the Working Theater is honored to exhibit important original historic documents penned by Abraham Lincoln and the great emancipator Frederick Douglass (portrayed by De Shields).

Some of the documents on display will include:

Frederick Douglass Helps Haiti
Douglass escaped from slavery in 1838, became a leader in the anti-slavery and women's rights movements, and served as U.S. Minister to Haiti from 1889-1891.

Frederick Douglass: "The Right to Personal Freedom" is the Foundation of all other Rights. "Right is of no sex, age, country, color, or clime." The right to personal freedom is the most palpable of all other rights, as all rights depend upon the recognition of this right.
-Frederick Douglass, 1846"

Eight years after escaping from bondage, and still technically a fugitive slave, Frederick Douglass identifies personal freedom as the key universal value.

Lincoln's Last State of the Union Address: "We are gaining strength."

"thousands, white and black join us, as the national arms press back the insurgent lines... we are not exhausted...we are gaining strength...
We have more men now than we had when the war began, and may if need be maintain the contest indefinitely."

Lincoln's message is that despite the terrible losses of the Civil War, the Union will triumph. Four months later, Lee surrendered at Appomattox. Less than a week after that, Lincoln was felled by an assassin's bullet.

These items will be for sale and are part of the collection of Seth Kaller, Inc, based in White Plains, NY. He is a leading historic document dealer and collection builder. Documents Kaller has acquired for clients are presently on display at New York Historical Society, the National Constitution Center, and the White House among others. Details on the above documents can be found at www.sethkaller.net

In celebration of Black History Month 2010, The Working Theater Mark Plesent, Producing Director, will present award-winning Broadway star André De Shields performing his solo work-in-progress entitled Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance for 12 performances only from Thursday, February 4 through Sunday February 14 at the Abingdon Theater, 312 West 36 Street. Conceived, researched and written by Mr. De Shields, Mine Eyes is directed by Alfred Preisser.

Mr. De Shields notes that the months of January and February 2010 host the following historic events: DR. Martin Luther King's birthday (Jan 19); the first anniversary of the inauguration of our first African-American President, Barack Obama (Jan 20); Abraham Lincoln's birthday (Feb 12) and the anniversary of Frederick Douglass' birth (Feb/1818). "In my performance, I explore the life and achievements of the Great Emancipator, Frederick Douglass. Douglass began his life as a slave, through heroic efforts, became one of America's most important and historically influential African American leaders."

André De Shields has appeared in numerous Broadway, Off Broadway and regional productions as well as television and film. He recently starred in David Mamet's A Life in the Theatre at the ALLIANCE THEATRE in Atlanta. More recently he appeared in The Public Theatre's production of Euripides' The Bacchae in Central Park and starred in The Classical Theatre of Harlem production of Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe. On Broadway, he appeared in Impressionism as well as the original Broadway casts of The Wiz, Ain't Misbehavin' (Emmy Award), Play On!, The Full Monty and Prymate, among many others. He also conceived, co-wrote, directed, and starred in Haarlem Nocturne. This summer, he was presented with The National Black Theatre Festival's "Living Legend" Award. A two-time Tony Award nominee, he just won The VIV Award--named after AUDELCO's founder, Vivian Robinson--for Outstanding Performance in a Musical/Male for Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe, amd won the coveted OBIE Award for Sustained Excellence of Performance in 2007. His television credits include Cosby, Sex and the City, Law & Order, Lipstick Jungle and Life on Mars.

Founded in 1985, The Working Theater's mission is to produce plays for and about working people. "We believe that theater should not be a privilege or a luxury, but a staple," say Mark Plesent. "We want working people who may not be able to afford commercial theater or who feel that it does not resonate with their lives and experience, to make play-going a regular part of their cultural activities." Over the years, the company has commissioned and produced more than 70 world premieres of culturally diverse new plays; garnered widespread recognition and critical acclaim for writing, acting, directing as well as their pioneering efforts in audience development.

André De Shields' Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance will run from February 4 through 14 at the Abingdon Theater/June Havoc Theater, 312 West 36 Street. The performance schedule will be Wednesday through Saturday at 8PM with matinees on Saturday at 2PM and Sunday at 3PM. There is no performance Tuesday evening, February 9; there will be a matinee on Wednesday, February 10 at 2:00 PM. All tickets are $25 and can be ordered online at www.smarttix.com or call 212-868-4444.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.

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