The Agitators: The Story of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass

The Agitators: The Story of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass

The Agitators: The Story of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass is a play which was later adapted into a podcast.

Background

The play was created in 2017 by Mat Smart and directed by Valeria Curtis-Newton.^[1] The work was commissioned by the New York State Council on the Arts.^[2] The play begins with Frederick Douglass playing the violin and Susan B. Anthony at a picnic.^[3] The play stars Curtis M. Jackson as Frederick Douglass and Jessica Link as Susan B. Anthony.^[4] The play was produced by the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.^[5] The play follows the friendship between Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony over the course of a 45 year period.^[6] The play was performed soon after restrictions had been lifted during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[7] In 2020, the play was directed by Signe Harriday.^[8] The play won a 2017 Edgerton Foundation New Play Award.^[9]

Adaptation

The show was later adapted into a podcast hosted by Ashley C. Ford.^[10] The podcast was produced by the National Park Service, Public Radio Exchange, and the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission.^[11] The podcast debuted on November 18, 2020 and starred Cedric Mays as Frederick Douglass and Madeleine Lambert as Susan B. Anthony.^[12]

References

1. "'The Agitators,' about the decades-long friendship of Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony, unfolds like a scrapbook". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. June 14, 2019. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
2. "Grantee Spotlight: Geva Theatre Center | NYSCA". New York State Council on the Arts. Government of New York. November 22, 2017. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
3. "'The Agitators' at Playhouse on Park charts the long friendship between Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony". Hartford Courant. Tribune Publishing. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
4. Hamlet, Isaac. "Riverside Theatre cedes stage to radical rabble-rousers in new show, 'The Agitators'". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Gannett. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
5. Heupel, Shannon. "The Agitators: Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass were friends with different paths to equality". Montgomery Advertiser. Gannett. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
6. Staff Report. "'The Agitators': Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass together". Barre Montpelier Times Argus. Sample News Group. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
7. Makar, Paula. "Review: THE AGITATORS: Susan B. Anthony & Frederick Douglass at The Forum Theatre". BroadwayWorld. Wisdom Digital Media. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
8. Preston, Rohan (October 3, 2018). "'Agitators' explores friendship between Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass". Star Tribune. Star Tribune Media Company LLC. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
9. "2017 Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards". circle.tcg.org. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
10. "NJ Rep presents National New Play Network Premiere of "Eden Prairie, 1971"". NewJerseyStage.com. September 16, 2022. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
11. "Eden Prairie, 1971 at NJRep". linknews. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
12. Gans, Andrew; Meyer, Dan (October 28, 2020). "In the News: Daniel Dae Kim Set for Politically-Themed Belly of the Beast, Stars Line Up for Broadway Celebrates Veterans Day Concert". Playbill. TotalTheater. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2022.

External links

• Official website
• The Agitators podcast on Public Radio Exchange
• The Agitators podcast on National Park Service