Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company to Host Town Hall Meeting on American Racism, 8/23

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of DR. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s historic March on Washington, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company will host From Emmett Till to Trayvon Martin: A Town Hall Meeting on Black Bodies and American Racism, to take place on Friday, August 23, 2013, from 7-10pm.

The event-at which discussion topics will include the recent Zimmerman verdict in the State of Florida and racial profiling and race relations in Washington, DC-aims to foster a dialogue among activists, academics, artists, policy makers, and interested community members to identify potential next steps and an action plan for change.

Key stakeholders and organization leaders including, Carolyn Boyd, Minister of Organizational Development at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ; Louisa Davis, activist and Adjunct Professor of Religion and Ethics at Montgomery College; Jessica Frances Dukes, Woolly Company Member; Dr. Dennis B. Rogers, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Bowie State University; and Dawn Ursula, Woolly Company Member (and cast member in Woolly's production of We Are Proud to Present...) will sit on a facilitated discussion panel and lend their voices to this national conversation. The panel will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Participants will then break out into smaller groups, in order to brainstorm, network, and coordinate future community mobilizations and actions.

"We don't know what will come out of this Town Hall meeting," says Connectivity Director Jocelyn Prince, "but it is vital for us to provide a safe space for the city's community members to share, process, and organize around this verdict. I continue to believe that theatre is uniquely poised to facilitate cross-cultural dialogue and art-making, and that this exchange can positively affect both individuals and our society at large. Through Woolly Mammoth's season-long exploration of what lies under America's sunny exterior, and in particular, through our productions ofAppropriate and We Are Proud To Present..­. -two plays that uniquely explore the consequences of our nation's relationship with its troubled history of race relations-we hope to continue this conversation about race and racism, and become a springboard for activism in our community."

Leading local individuals and organizations will partner with Woolly around this initiative, including African Continuum Theatre Company,Hannah Mothers Campaign, Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, Rock the Vote, and Washington Peace Center. These event partners are positioned to be involved in the identification of and planning for prospective initiatives and actions that might arise out of this joining of community members and leaders.

The Town Hall Meeting will be held in The Melton Rehearsal Hall, in the lower level of the Kogod Lobby at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D Street, NW. This event is free and open to the public. The event is limited to 100 guests, so reservations are required and can be made online at woollymammoth.net.

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