Emerson Theatre Collaborative Announces Production of Harriet Tubman’s Dream

 

 

February 5, 2011/New London, CT . . . In celebration of Black History Month, the play, Harriet Tubman’s Dream will be performed on February 5, 2011 at The Writer’s Block Ink, in New London.  Harriet Tubman was an African American, abolitionist, anti-slavery activist, suffragist and one of the greatest American humanitarians that ever lived. After escaping slavery, into which she was born, she made thirteen missions to personally rescue over seventy slaves with the help of the Underground Railroad and helped another 60 slaves plan and carryout their own escapes.  She worked closely with many well-known abolitionists including Frederick Douglass and John Brown. During the Civil War, she worked as a nurse, scout and spy for the Union Army without financial compensation. Throughout her life, she worked tirelessly and selflessly to end injustice and to obtain freedom, equality and dignity for all people. To help support herself, the fugitive slave community and to finance her rescue missions, Harriet Tubman worked as a cook, domestic servant and gave dramatic storytelling performances of her life.  At parlor socials or at church meetings, she performed to great acclaim for many prominent abolitionists, suffragists and the literary elite in New England. In Harriet Tubman's Dream, Camilla Ross portrays Tubman giving one of her storytelling performances in Boston.

 

Emerson Theater Collaborative serves youth, underrepresented communities, and artists with an emphasis on diversity by producing innovative and exhilarating theater in southeastern Connecticut.  By exploring timely themes and issues through original works and modern theatrical classics, ETC develops and nurtures emerging and professional artists by collaborating with the Emerson College network of alumni and students.

 

 

Camilla Ross performs Harriet Tubman’s Dream. Camilla Ross is the current president and founder of the Emerson Theater Collaborative, and a graduate of Emerson College in Boston. She comes with years of performing and producing credits from commercials to Regional Theater. Camilla continues to lead and shape ETC into one of the leading professional theaters in southeastern Connecticut. As an actress, Camilla was last seen as Chessie - the leading role of  “Chestina Vanessa Poulson” by Melanie Greenhouse. Previously, she acted in John Patrick Shanley’s play “Doubt,” playing the role of Mrs. Mueller, and as Harriet Tubman in Lisa Giordano’s one woman show “Harriet Tubman’s Dream.” Camilla is a former board member and acting instructor for the Writer’s Block, Ink of New London, CT, and currently teaches as a part-time business faculty member of the Three Rivers Community College. She currently sits on the Emerson Alumni Board, and is the co-president of the CT Chapter. She would like to thank her family and friends for all their support and gives praise to God for all of the blessings.

 

 

Harriet Tubman’s Dream is written by Lisa Giordano.  Ms. Giordano is on the advisory board of the Emerson Theater Collaborative.  Her play, True Nature of All Being, received an Honorable Mention in the Clauder Competition, the New England Playwrights Festival held in Maine, and received an Honorable Mention in the International Eco-drama Playwrights Festival in California.  Locally, two of her musical plays for children, Rock Around the Sound and To Bee or Not To Bee and Other Bug Tales were performed at the Garde Arts Center in New London, CT as part of their Kids on Stage program.  Her plays have been work-shopped at UConn’s Avery Point Theater and have received staged readings through the Planning Stage and by the students of the Writer’s Block, Ink of New London, CT, where she is a member of the faculty and board.  Ms. Giordano is a member of the Dramatist Guild and belongs to the Writers’ Roundtable of Southeastern Connecticut.

 

Harriet Tubman’s Dream is directed by Aaron Arbiter.  Mr. Arbiter is currently on the faculty of the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT.  Mr. Arbiter is a graduate of the National Theater Institute and of Brandeis University where he was Artistic Director of Brandeis University’s award-winning Free Play Theatre Cooperative.  His directing credits at Brandeis include City of Angels and John Patrick Shanley's Savage in Limbo.

 

Key Dates and Information

What:  Emerson Theatre Collaborative’s production of Harriet Tubman’s Dream

When:  February 5 at 7:00 p.m.

Where:  The Writer’s Block, Ink, 446 Coleman Street, New London, CT 06320

How:  Tickets are $25 ($23 for students and seniors) and can be obtained by calling 860-705-9711.  A portion of the profits will be donated to benefit The Writer’s Block, INK.  Additional information is available at EmersonTheatreCollaborative.org.