FAIRFIELD, CT — Pequot Library in Southport will host a series of live performances this summer and fall connected to its exhibition, “UNFINISHED REVOLUTION: 250 Years of Marking American Independence.”
The performances will feature actors James Naughton, Michael Tucker, Jill Eikenberry, Mia Dillon and Nathan Anthony Hinton. The series draws from historical documents and texts in the library’s Special Collections.
According to the library, the performances will include readings, debate and discussion based on works including the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, The Federalist Papers, the Emancipation Proclamation, writings by Abigail Adams, Revolutionary-era pamphlets and broadsides, and Frederick Douglass’ speech, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”
Pequot Library Executive Director Peter van Heerden said, “We’re ecstatic to see the results when these four performers hit the stage, illuminating history and giving us new insights into these foundational documents and writings.”
The series is free and open to the public, though reservations are required because space is limited.
The first performance, featuring James Naughton and Friends, will take place during the exhibition opening reception June 10 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Additional performances include “The Declaration of Independence and Equality,” with a moderated Q&A, on Sept. 10 from 7 to 9 p.m., and the closing exhibition celebration Sept. 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. The Sept. 25 event will also include a live band performance and moderated Q&A.
Admission to the Sept. 25 closing event is $50 per person, with proceeds supporting exhibition programs.
— Flyer from Pequot Library
From the announcement:
ABOUT JAMES NAUGHTON:
From Broadway and regional theater to television and films, James Naughton has won critical acclaim in dramas, comedies and musicals. He is the winner of two Tony Awards as Best Actor in a Musical for his role in the Broadway hit Chicago (1997) and for his role as a film-noir era detective in City of Angels (1990).
ABOUT MIA DILLON:
Mia Dillon is a Tony Award–nominated actress and director, best known for her roles in the films All Good Things, Gods and Generals, and The Money Pit.
ABOUT JILL EIKENBERRY:
Jill Eikenberry is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Ann Kelsey on NBC’s long-running hit series L.A. Law, which earned her four Emmy nominations, two Golden Globe nominations and a Golden Globe Award. She reprised her role on L.A. Law – The Movie on NBC.
ABOUT MICHAEL TUCKER:
Michael Tucker is an actor, author and playwright. He is best-known for his 8-year stint on L.A. Law, the NBC-TV drama that brought him three Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations.
ABOUT NATHAN ANTHONY HINTON:
Nathan Anthony Hinton is an actor who has appeared on Madam Secretary, One Life to Live, The Good Wife, and others. He appeared in the Broadway Tour for Angels in America and holds an MFA from Yale School of Drama.
ABOUT UNFINISHED REVOLUTION:
250 years ago, America’s founders declared independence from England and set forth the principles that would shape the nation: that all men are created equal and entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
In UNFINISHED REVOLUTION: 250 Years of Marking American Independence, historic speeches, photographs, diaries, and souvenirs from the Centennial and Bicentennial illustrate how America has been celebrated in Southport and beyond. Alongside these materials, the exhibition also highlights powerful responses from those who argued that the promise of equality remained unfulfilled. Publications like the Declaration of Sentiments of the American Anti-Slavery Society and Frederick Douglass’s searing 1852 speech, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”, reveal how the language of the Declaration has been invoked to demand equality, freedom, and justice, for those who, in practice, had been excluded from the founding ideals. As we mark the 250th anniversary of American independence this July, UNFINISHED REVOLUTION invites visitors to reflect on the nation’s founding principles and consider how we might work toward a more perfect union. The exhibition is supported by funding through CT Humanities.
ABOUT PEQUOT LIBRARY:
Founded in 1889, Pequot Library is a nonprofit public association library dedicated to enriching lives through cultural, educational, and intellectual engagement. Serving more than 56,000 people annually, the Pequot Library offers extensive programming for all ages and relies on the support of donors, members, and community partners to sustain its mission.
ABOUT CONNECTICUT HUMANITIES:
Connecticut Humanities (CTH) is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH connects people to the humanities through grants, partnerships, and collaborative programs. CTH projects, administration, and program development are supported by state and federal matching funds, community foundations and gifts from private sources. Learn more by visiting cthumanities.org.
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