The Celestials, a play adaptation at MASS MoCA

THE CELESTIALS

a new play

by Peter Glazer

Hello! You’re invited to a reading of The Celestials at MASS MoCA, a new play by Peter Glazer, based on the novel by Karen Shepard. This will be the first time the play will ever be shared in public.

The Celestials, by Williamstown author Karen Shepard, is set in North Adams in the late 19th century, at the very height of the industrial revolution. In 1870, 75 young Chinese men, then identified as the Celestials, arrived in North Adams by train from San Francisco. They were brought to the city to break a strike by the Knights of St. Crispin’s at the Calvin T. Sampson Shoe Factory, which was located right across the road from MASS MoCA. Shepard’s novel draws on the historical record to realize the impact these young men had on the city and its residents over the course of two decades. It is a tale of labor, love, immigration, and community.

Peter Glazer brings this fascinating story to life in MASS MoCA’s historic mill buildings over a series of work-in-progress play readings. These events allow Glazer to hear and evaluate his work as part of a continuing creative process. Discussions will be held after the readings, where you may share your thoughts and feelings on the piece. As this work is still in progress, the following performances are by invitation only (see reservation details below):

February 22, 2020: Reading of Act 1

Location: Event Space Mezzanine, Building 6

Time: 3:00 PM

*Discussions after showing

February 29, 2020: Reading of Act 2

Location: Event Space Mezzanine, Building 6

Time: 3:00 PM

*Discussion after showing

April 18, 2020: Reading of Act 1 and Act 2

Location: Rehearsal Hall, Building 11

Time: 1:00 PM

*Discussion after showing

To reserve a spot for any of the dates listed above and for any questions, reach out

to Timothy Hartel at thartel@massmoca.org  Reserving a seat in advance is required.

Admission to MASS MoCA is free to MCLA students, Williams’ faculty and students, and MASS MoCA Members.

*

Join us for the final formal reading in MASS MoCA’s Club B10:

May 7, 2020: Work-in-Progress Reading of The Celestials

Location: Club B10

Tickets: $5 for members + students / $9 advance + day of

Time: 8:00 PM

For Tickets to the May Performance: Click Here

Find our event on Facebook: Click Here

Sponsored by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation