(WEST ORANGE, NJ) -- Luna Stage presents The Ground on Which We Stand, a multi-writer, site-specific performance exploring the history and impact of The James Howe House from 1780 to the present day. The Howe House is the first property in the Township of Montclair to be owned by an African American and formerly enslaved person, and has been the site of much current controversy. There will be two performances indoors at Luna Stage on April 30th. UPDATE: Unfortunately, the weather forecast for this Saturday predicts heavy rain all day. Because of this, Luna Stage is postponing the outdoor performances of "The Ground On Which We Stand" to Saturday, May 20th. All tickets for April 29th will be honored for May 20th for the same time slot they were issued. If you are unable to attend the performance on May 20th and would like to release your tickets, please call Luna Stage at (973) 395- 5551 ext 10.
The Ground on Which We Stand was written by Turron Kofi Alleyne, Jenny Lyn Bader, Rochelle Herring, Sakinah Hofler, Stephen Kaplan, Kyle Mazer, Kathleen McGhee-Anderson, Diane Polledri, Martine Sainvil, TyLie Shider, Mo Schlick, Melissa Toomey, and Richard Wesley.
The production was conceived and Directed by Ari Laura Kreith and developed at Luna Stage in collaboration with Crossroads Theatre.
Outdoor tours depart in Montclair on April 29th at 10:00am, 11:00am, 1:15pm, and 2:15pm. Click here for tickets. A meeting location in Montclair will be sent to attendees one week before. Guests are asked to arrive 15 minutes before departure and then will journey on a 1 hour 45 minute guided tour visiting 15 performance locations all steeped in local history. ** Note: tickets are free, but you may make a donation with your tickets if you wish.
The production moves indoors to Luna Stage (555 Valley Rd) in West Orange on April 30th at 2:00pm and 7:00pm. Click here for tickets. ** Note: tickets are free, but you may make a donation with your tickets if you wish.
James Howe became the owner of 369 Claremont Avenue when his enslaver, Nathanial Crane, died in the 1830s. Terms of the will manumitted Howe and made him a homeowner.
The house was unlandmarked and came up for sale this past fall. A dramatic community controversy ensued about the appropriate legacy of the space, and it was purchased at the 11th hour by a community organization dedicated to its preservation.
This project is supported by The National Endowment for the Arts, New Jersey Council for the Humanities, the New Jersey Historical Society, The Montclair Foundation, The Suzzanne Douglas Memorial Commissioning Fund, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.
Luna Stage is located at 555 Valley Rd, West Orange, New Jersey. Founded in 1992, Luna Stage develops and produces vibrant plays about local and global experiences.
They bring communities together for artistic events that spark conversations and create understanding and change. Firmly rooted in New Jersey's Valley Arts District, a crossroads of cultures, they celebrate the diverse voices that surround them. As producer, innovator, and educator, they are dedicated to eliminating barriers to participation, and nurturing the next generation of audiences and artists.
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