JOHN BROWN: TRUMPET OF FREEDOM
** a benefit for St. Mark’s & WBAI **
Extended through February 20 at St. Mark’s

"mind-blowing and informative in every sense" - Rutgers Observer

"powerful, intense... the playwrights give the story both a stinging bite of reality and a calming dignity" - Amsterdam News

"an amazing show.... riveting" - nytheatre.com

St. Mark’s-in-the-Bowery hosts the World Premiere of John Brown: Trumpet of Freedom, a drama by George Wolf Reily and Norman Thomas Marshall. Directed by Reily, it features Marshall as thirty historical characters including Brown, various slaves and slave owners, and even Harriet Tubman. Performances run through February 20 at St. Mark’s-in-the-Bowery. A portion of proceeds will benefit WBAI Radio and St. Mark’s.

John Brown: Trumpet of Freedom explores the conscience of a man who commits violent acts against those he deems guilty of grave sins. It is set in the shadow of the gallows on the final day of Brown’s life as he composes a farewell letter to his Abolitionist compatriots. He ruminates on his attack of the Harpers Ferry arsenal, his actions against the pro-slavery militia in Kansas, and the first time he sees a tortured black slave when he vows to God to wage war against a government that sanctions such abominations.

The play was originally commissioned by Rutgers University in 1996 as a four character play. Under the title of Trumpet of Freedom: The Saga of John Brown, it was workshopped in the 2001 New York International Fringe Festival and in numerous productions at theaters and universities throughout the U.S. over the last 3 years.

Norman Thomas Marshall was born in Virginia, the son of a Klansman and grandson of a slave owner. His colorful life includes as stint as a 6’3" defensive tackle for the Richmond Vikings, a civil rights activist, and center of a 1960’s Supreme Court case involving him being kicked out of college for growing a beard. He moved to New York City in 1965 and quickly became the literal straight man in Ronald Tavel’s "ridiculous" theater company where he starred in shows including Gorilla Queen, Vinyl, and the Obie winning Boy on a Straight Back Chair. His other credits include Blood Wedding with Raul Julia, Of Mice and Men with F. Murray Abraham, Jackie Curtis’ Amerika/Cleopatra opposite Harvey Fierstein (who played his mother-in law), and Charlie Was Here & Now He’s Gone with Joe Morton and Robert Guillaume. He spent eleven years as the Artistic Director of the No Smoking Playhouse. For more information visit www.wbworks.com/johnbrown.

John Brown: Trumpet of Freedom runs through February 20, Sundays at 4:00pm. St. Mark’s-in-the-Bowery is located at 131 East 10th Street (at 2nd Avenue -- accessible from the 6 train at Astor Place). Tickets are $20. For reservations call 718-784-0905.