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Agitators, The

  • Mat Smart
  • Full Length Play, Drama, American Civil War Era, 19th Century
  • 1M, 1F
  • ISBN: 9780573708305

The Agitators tells the enduring but tempestuous friendship of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. Great allies? Yes. And at times, great adversaries.

More information

Description

  • Full Length Play
  • Drama
  • 105 minutes

  • Time Period: American Civil War Era, 19th Century
  • Target Audience: Teen (Age 14 - 18), Adult

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, High School/Secondary, Professional Theatre, Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups, College Theatre / Student

  • Accolades:
  • Winner! Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards (2017)
The Agitators tells of the enduring but tempestuous friendship of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. Great allies? Yes. And at times, great adversaries. Young abolitionists when they met in Rochester in the 1840s, they were full of hopes, dreams, and a common purpose. As they grew to become the cultural icons we know today, their movements collided and their friendship was severely tested.

This is the story of that forty-five-year friendship -- from its beginning in Rochester, through a civil war, and to the highest halls of government. They agitated the nation, they agitated each other, and in doing so, they helped shape the Constitution and the course of American history. 
REVIEWS:

"Theater at its best. Teaching us, challenging us, reminding us of where we've been, where we are and how far we still have to go."

 Cedar Rapids Gazette

"A brilliant success in illuminating the rights of American citizenship -- a powerful history lesson that needs to have a voice. In short, it is not to be missed."

 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle 

"In Mat Smart's powerful retelling, what goes down between Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass goes way beyond bio-rama. Here we see two noble seekers of equality and hear heartstrings of the history they left unfinished."

 DC Metro Theater Arts

"Smart's compelling script weaves through historical periods and sprinkles touchstone events that reinforce their humanity."

 DC Theatre Scene

"The Agitators unfolds like a scrapbook, with snippets of conversation between Douglass and Anthony during their decades-long struggle for abolition and voting rights."

 Seattle Times

"Mat Smart's brilliant play, The Agitators, stirs up the past flinging it squarely into the present."

 Cedars Rapid Gazette

Premiere Production: The Agitators premiered at the Geva Theatre Center (Artistic Director, Mark Cuddy; Executive Director, Christopher Mannelli) in Rochester, New York on October 21, 2017.

Characters

  • Casting: 1M, 1F
  • Casting Attributes: Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle), Role(s) for Black Actor(s), Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle)

  • SUSAN B. ANTHONY - (thirties or forties) a white woman
    FREDERICK DOUGLASS - (thirties or forties) a black man

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Agitators, The Script This is optional. Order Now

    The Agitators tells of the enduring but tempestuous friendship of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. Great allies? Yes. And at times, great adversaries. Young abolitionists when they met in Rochester in the 1840s, they were full of hopes, dreams, and a common purpose. As they grew to become the cultural icons we know today, their movements collided and their friendship was severely tested.

    This is the story of that forty-five-year friendship -- from its beginning in Rochester, through a civil war, and to the highest halls of government. They agitated the nation, they agitated each other, and in doing so, they helped shape the Constitution and the course of American history. 

    		$24.95

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