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Join us Monday, November 13th, at 7PM for
the reading of a compelling new play!
AN AMERICAN TREE
Written by Di Shawn J. Gandy
Directed by Diane L. Parker
Monday, November 13, 7PM
$5 suggested donation
Stay for
a discussion with the playwright and cast following the
reading.
In An American
Tree, set in the scorching summer of 1889, deep
in Alabama’s unforgiving Jim Crow South, the Bonner family’s legacy,
a woven tapestry of two generations grappling with their painful
history, teeters on the brink of revelation. Sophronia, a mulatto and
resilient matriarch, and Squire, her husband, both carry the weight
of their enslavement’s heavy chains, haunted by memories that linger
like shadows in the sweltering Alabama heat.
Their son, Willie George, born into the promise of freedom, faces the
insidious grip of the Jim Crow system, threatening their hard-fought
progress. Amid a nation scarred by history, “An American Tree” delves
into deep emotions and hidden secrets, where choices can save or
shatter. As tension mounts, the heart-wrenching decision between
preserving the fragile family and embracing the untold story unfolds,
where past and present collide.
Within the walls of their home, the Bonner family's journey is a
poignant exploration of history’s enduring impact and the relentless
fight for an elusive future. In a world where freedom is hope and
illusion, their story resonates with the universal struggle for
justice,
identity, and the enduring strength of family bonds.
Featuring a stellar cast: Carmen
Balentine, Andrea LeTrell, Chris Grant, Ibn Abdul Khaaliq,
Felicia Russell, Peter Reimann
This program is made possible in part by funds from
Monmouth Arts, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts,
and the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners.
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