The American Place Theatre ; Literature to Life Festival

On Saturday, September 17th and Sunday, September 18th, The American Place Theatre will present our Literature to Life Festival. Created as part of a Training Program for Professional Teaching Artists, this weekend of back-to-back performances and guest lectures will also offer educators and the public an opportunity to preview all of The American Place Theatre current shows for the 2005-06 Season.

FESTIVAL LOCATION: New York Society for Ethical Culture
2 West 64th Street at Central Park West

Manchild in the Promised Land
Saturday, September 17th at 1pm


The "Promised Land" is Claude Brown's Harlem, New York in the 1950's where Sonny, our protagonist, struggles to find his identity, keep his sanity and overcome the cruel obstacles of violent street life in the ghetto.
Manchild in the Promised Land
>From the Novel by Claude Brown
Performed by Joseph Edward or Gil Deeble (festival)
Adapted by Wynn Handman and Joseph Edwards
Directed by Wynn Handman

The Kite Runner
Saturday, September 17th at 3pm


From the first novel about contemporary Afghanistan to be written in English, this performance dramatically portrays the relationship of two boys - Amir, a privileged Pashtun and Hassan, a Hazara servant. Surprising events occur with the backdrop of 1970's Afghanistan in turmoil.
The Kite Runner
>From the Novel by Khaled Hosseini
Performed by Aasif Mandvi or Arian Moayed (festival)
Adapted and Directed by Wynn Handman

The Things They Carried
Saturday, September 17th at 5pm


This masterwork of contemporary literature is a collection of short pieces about the character Tim O'Brien and his experiences surrounding the Vietnam War. He presents a blurred line between truth and reality, fact and fiction, that makes this journey unforgettable.
The Things They Carried
>From the Novel by Tim O'Brien
Performed by Dashiell Eaves and Chris Carr (festival)
Directed by Wynn Handman

Dreaming in Cuban
Saturday, September 17th at 7pm


Special guest appearance by the author of Dreaming in Cuban, CRISTINA GARCIA!

Directly following the 7pm performance, Ms. Garcia will be speaking and answering questions abot this important novel.

Cristina Garcia's novel brings to life three generations of Cuban women living in New York City and Cuba and their separate responses to the Revolution. This bittersweet story tackles the historical theme of spiritual exile and the deadly uncertainty through which Cuba continues to live.

Dreaming in Cuban
>From the Novel by Cristina Garcia
Performed by Francisca Vargas
Adapted and Directed by Wynn Handman

Growing Up A Slave
Sunday, September 18th at 3pm


Derived from slave narratives transcribed by the Federal Writers' Project in the 1930's, three characters share their dramatic accounts of slave life, their food and eating habits, clothing, religious and superstitious beliefs, music, plus those experiences specific to "the peculiar institution;" runaways, whippings, and the auction block. The spiritual resources of these oppressed people pulsate through the account. The human spirit triumphs.
Growing Up A Slave
>From Slave Narratives transcribed by The Federal Writers' Project
Performed by Cherita A. Armstrong, Patt Franklin, and Jarrad Skinner
Adapted and Directed by Wynn Handman

The Secret Life of Bees
Sunday, September 18th at 5pm


In this New York Times bestseller set during the Civil Rights Movement, a young girl's search for the truth about her mother leads her to three beekeeping sisters and the discovery of the real meaning of family.
The Secret Life of Bees
>From the Novel by Sue Monk Kidd
Performed by Denise Wilbanks
Adapted and Directed by Wynn Handman


Black Boy
Sunday, September 18th at 7pm


A verbatim adaptation of the classic American autobiographical work, Black Boy dramatizes Richard Wright's journey from childhood innocence to adulthood in the Jim Crow South. The issues addressed in this novel still resonate in today's cultural dialogue.
Black Boy
>From the Novel by Richard Wright
Performed by Tarantino Smith
Adapted and Directed by Wynn Handman