Ford's Theater Examines Equality in America With Jefferson's Garden
Performances of Jefferson's Garden began on Friday at Ford's Theatre as part of the Women’s Voices Theater Festival.
Playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker's drama is described as follows: "Set during the American Revolution, Jefferson's Garden is a work of historical fiction that explores the contradictions between our Founding Fathers’ ideals and the realities of freedom. Christian, a Quaker pacifist, defies his family to fight in the Revolution. Susannah, an enslaved woman, is tempted to fight for the British when they promise her liberty. Christian and Susannah cross paths with Sally and James Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Mason, and others. These encounters force them to confront the compromises America makes after the promise of equality."
The production features Christopher Dinolfo, Felicia Curry, Christopher Bloch, Michael Kevin Darnall, Kimberly Gilbert, Michael
Halling, Thomas Keegan, Kathryn Tkel and Maggie Wilder. Nataki Garrett directs.
(© Christopher Mueller)
Jefferson's Garden features the design work of Milagros Ponce de León (scenic design), Ivania Stack (costume design), Laura Mroczkowski (lighting design), John Gromada (original music and sound design), and Anne Nesmith (hair and make-up design). Jennifer L. Nelson is the dramaturg and Rachel Hirshorn-Johnston the dialects and vocal director.
Including Ford's Theatre, the Women’s Voices Theater Festival features 28 participating theaters. Initiated in fall 2015, the festival was created to highlight the scope of new plays written by female playwrights and the range of professional theater being produced in and around the nation’s capital.
Performances of Jefferson's Garden continue through February 11.
