BEHOLD, A NEGRESS at Everyman Theatre

Behold, A Negress is a passionate and daring examination of the challenges of intersectional feminism and the role of art during times of social unrest and political upheaval. Set in Paris at the beginning of Napoleon's reign, the play imagines an intimate relationship between real-life painter, Marie-Guillemine Benoist and her muse, Madeleine, a formerly enslaved black woman. Inspired by the execution of 18th Century feminist and playwright Olympe de Gouges, Marie and Madeleine maneuver the codes of women's power in pursuit of their own liberty and equality. When Marie's ambition and desire for artistic recognition overshadow Madeleine's sense of justice and personal integrity, the women find themselves on the brink of their own revolution.