Debut Stage Reading of Major New Play by Kyle Bass

One hundred seventy five years ago, in October of 1839, a beautiful 23-year-old African American woman named Harriet Powell came to Syracuse with the Mississippi family who owned her.  During their stay to visit friends in the area, they lodged in a suite of rooms at the very fashionable Syracuse House hotel near Clinton Square.  Working at the hotel was a free African American Syracuse resident named Tom Leonard, who also happened to be a "stationmaster" on the Underground Railroad.  On the evening of October 7, 1839, with the help of Tom, and a host of other local abolitionists, both white and black, Harriet made her daring escape from bondage and began her harrowing journey to freedom.

One of the safe houses to which Harriet was taken, was the mansion of famous abolitionist Gerrit Smith in Peterboro, New York.  At the time, Smith was hosting his cousin, 23-year-old Elizabeth Cady (who, as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, later became one of the most well-known abolitionists and women's rights activists in history).   Smith's introduction of Elizabeth and Harriet led to an emotional private discussion between the two women who, though of the same age, came from drastically different backgrounds.  Though no details of that discussion were ever revealed, both women later credited the conversation as one that changed both of their lives.

OHA has commissioned noted award-winning playwright and Syracuse Stage dramaturg, Kyle Bass, to write a major new play that will bring to life these compelling historical characters and momentous events, including the meeting and conversation between Powell and Cady, two remarkable women. The play will be directed by award-winning renowned director, Robert Moss.

Tickets are $40.00 each and can be purchased through the Redhouse Box Office only.  Online at:  http://www.theredhouse.org/ or call (315) 362-2785. 

The cost includes a reception at the Redhouse Café after the play.