2021 TALES IN THE BACKYARD
SCHEDULE OF PERFORMANCES
JUNE 17: A Brief Look at The African American Experience in America Since Juneteeth Day, June 19, 1865: Three authors will be featured from the serious to the humorous, read by Stephanie Garrett.
Mary Church Terrell, born in 1863, became a national civil rights activist, suffragist and educator. Her speech in 1906, 41 years after the end of the Civil War, “What it Means to be Colored in the Capital of the United States” speaks volumes about racial progress.
James Mercer Langston Hughes, born in 1901, was a poet, social activist, novelist, playwright
and columnist, and was one of the leaders of the Harlem Renaissance. Short stories from his book The Best of Simple, depict life in Harlem in the 1940’s through the eyes of Jesse B. Simple.
Alice Childress, born in 1912, was a novelist, playwright and actress. She was the only African American women to have written, produced and published plays for four decades. Like One of The Family: Conversations from a Domestic’s Life, circa 1950’s, is a humous look at the African American take on working for white folk.
Mary Church Terrell, born in 1863, became a national civil rights activist, suffragist and educator. Her speech in 1906, 41 years after the end of the Civil War, “What it Means to be Colored in the Capital of the United States” speaks volumes about racial progress.
James Mercer Langston Hughes, born in 1901, was a poet, social activist, novelist, playwright
and columnist, and was one of the leaders of the Harlem Renaissance. Short stories from his book The Best of Simple, depict life in Harlem in the 1940’s through the eyes of Jesse B. Simple.
Alice Childress, born in 1912, was a novelist, playwright and actress. She was the only African American women to have written, produced and published plays for four decades. Like One of The Family: Conversations from a Domestic’s Life, circa 1950’s, is a humous look at the African American take on working for white folk.
JUNE 24: Three Classic American Writers who wrote for "The New Yorker" read by James Rana
James Thurber ("The Night The Bed Fell"), a native of Columbus, Ohio, was an acclaimed cartoonist, author, and playwright, His work includes The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (twice adapted for the screen), The Rabbits Who Caused All The Trouble, The Catbird Seat, The 13 Clocks, and the Broadway revue A Thurber Carnival. In 1997, The Thurber Prize for American Humor, one of the highest recognitions of humor writing, was created, in his memory.
E.B. White ("Card of Thanks"), best known for his children's books, Stuart Little, The Trumpet of the Swan, and Charlotte's Web, began his career as a newspaper reporter in Seattle. Following a short stint in advertising, he returned to his hometown of New York City, where he found immediate employment at "The New Yorker" as a staff writer. He was the recipient of numerous literary honors, including: The Newbery Medal, The Presidential Medal of Freedom, The National Medal for Literature, and a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation for Letters.
Robert Benchley ("Lesson Number One") was an alumnus of Harvard University's legendary humor magazine "The Harvard Lampoon," and was the managing editor of "Vanity Fair" before joining the writing staff at "The New Yorker." Benchley wrote over 600 essays compiled into twelve volumes, and managed to juggle journalism with screenwriting, and acting. His film acting credits include The Major and the Minor, I Married A Witch, and Alfred Hitchcock's Foreign Correspondent.
James Thurber ("The Night The Bed Fell"), a native of Columbus, Ohio, was an acclaimed cartoonist, author, and playwright, His work includes The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (twice adapted for the screen), The Rabbits Who Caused All The Trouble, The Catbird Seat, The 13 Clocks, and the Broadway revue A Thurber Carnival. In 1997, The Thurber Prize for American Humor, one of the highest recognitions of humor writing, was created, in his memory.
E.B. White ("Card of Thanks"), best known for his children's books, Stuart Little, The Trumpet of the Swan, and Charlotte's Web, began his career as a newspaper reporter in Seattle. Following a short stint in advertising, he returned to his hometown of New York City, where he found immediate employment at "The New Yorker" as a staff writer. He was the recipient of numerous literary honors, including: The Newbery Medal, The Presidential Medal of Freedom, The National Medal for Literature, and a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation for Letters.
Robert Benchley ("Lesson Number One") was an alumnus of Harvard University's legendary humor magazine "The Harvard Lampoon," and was the managing editor of "Vanity Fair" before joining the writing staff at "The New Yorker." Benchley wrote over 600 essays compiled into twelve volumes, and managed to juggle journalism with screenwriting, and acting. His film acting credits include The Major and the Minor, I Married A Witch, and Alfred Hitchcock's Foreign Correspondent.
JULY 1: Goin' Home, a one-person play written by Gayle Stahlhuth who will read from this work
In 1995, after battling cancer, Betty Alice Stahlhuth died, with her daughter, Gayle, by her side. Her husband, and Gayle's father, Loyd, had died in 1983. Betty Alice, Loyd, and Gayle were only-children. Betty Alice was able to design her 1955 three-bedroom home, just outside Indianapolis, so that it had a full attic and basement. Not only was it home to Gayle and her parents, but also to her grandparents, Betty Alice's parents. It was up to Gayle to clean out this home in which no one appeared to have thrown anything away. Treating this "de-cluttering" like an archeological dig, Gayle not only did the job by herself, but she created this touching and humorous play based on the experience. She received a New Jersey Humanities grant to tour the play throughout the state, and Goin' Home was part of several one-person festivals, including Cape May Stages' Going Solo and The Womenkind Festival in New York City.
In 1995, after battling cancer, Betty Alice Stahlhuth died, with her daughter, Gayle, by her side. Her husband, and Gayle's father, Loyd, had died in 1983. Betty Alice, Loyd, and Gayle were only-children. Betty Alice was able to design her 1955 three-bedroom home, just outside Indianapolis, so that it had a full attic and basement. Not only was it home to Gayle and her parents, but also to her grandparents, Betty Alice's parents. It was up to Gayle to clean out this home in which no one appeared to have thrown anything away. Treating this "de-cluttering" like an archeological dig, Gayle not only did the job by herself, but she created this touching and humorous play based on the experience. She received a New Jersey Humanities grant to tour the play throughout the state, and Goin' Home was part of several one-person festivals, including Cape May Stages' Going Solo and The Womenkind Festival in New York City.
JULY 8:
JULY 15: Suzanne Dawson performing
JULY 22:
JULY 29:
AUGUST 5:
AUGUST 12:
AUGUST 19:
AUGUST 26:
