THE YALE CLUB OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA

Cordially Invites You to

CELIA, a SLAVE
by Barbara Seyda

A First Production by The Rogue Theatre
Welcome to 1, 2, or 3 Events

Sep. 2, Sat., OPEN TALK (Free) – 2-3 PM

Sep. 13, Wed., PLAYWRIGHT and PROFESSOR BRUNCH – 10:30 AM

Sep. 14, Thu., DINNER (Before the Play) – Athens – 5 PM
and
THE PLAY – THE ROGUE THEATRE – 7:30 PM

BACKGROUND
We have an award-winning playwright who lives here in Tucson, among us.  We have the top-quality Rogue Theatre that is known for its excellence in bringing us the best-of-the-best in first productions.  Put them together!  Now, in its 11th year, the Yale Drama Prize ($10,000) is given annually for a play by an emerging playwright.  In addition to the prize money, the winner’s play is published by the Yale University Press and receives a staged reading at Lincoln Center Theater’s Claire Tow Theater.  Emerging playwrights from around the world are invited to submit original, unpublished, full-length English-language plays for consideration.  Two years ago, Tucsonan Barbara Seyda’s play was the winner from among 1,478 entries from 47 countries.  Barbara is a writer, editor, photographer, and designer and won this prize in 2015.
The Play:  Celia, a Slave

The play is based on the trial transcripts and court records from the State of Missouri vs. Celia, a Slave, a notorious 1855 case in which a 19-year-old slave was accused, convicted, and hanged for killing her 66-year-old master, a prosperous Missouri landowner.  The play is a tableau of interviews with the dead.  Excavating actual trial transcripts and court records, Seyda bears witness to racial and sexual violence in U.S. history, illuminating the brutal realities of female slave life in the pre–Civil War South while exploring the intersection of rape, morality, economics, and gender politics that continue to resonate today.

EVENTS
FIRST:    Open Talk (Free)  –  Saturday, September 2  –  2 PM – The Rogue Theatre
At 2 PM (for an hour),   Barbara Seyda will lead a presentation (followed by questions and answers) about Celia, a Slave.  This “Talk” is a very popular event that the patrons of The Rogue Theatre never miss!  Barbara will be joined by Kevin Byrne, speaking on African American representation in Theatre (Assistant Professor in the UA School of Theatre, Film & Television) and Dr. Stephanie Troutman, Asst. Prof. of Emerging Literacies, UA.  This Open Talk is very special because they also will show a brief scene (in costume) from the play.  The talk will take place at The Rogue Theatre, 300 E. University Blvd.  

SECOND:   Brunch –  Wednesday, September 13 – 10:30 AM – The Arizona Inn
Informal conversation with Barbara Seyda, the playwright, and her guest Dr. Stephanie Troutman.  Stephanie is a Professor of Emerging Literacies, a black feminist scholar with a focus on the intersection and understanding of race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality at UA.  
This will be an informal group of people who would like to discuss the play with Barbara and Stephanie.  We will meet in the Audubon Lounge at the Arizona Inn at 10:30 AM.  The Inn will serve coffee and light fare, and we will have individual checks.

THIRD: The Big Night – Thursday, September 14, Dinner, 5 PM at Athens and The Play, Celia, a Slave, 7:30 PM at The Rogue Theatre  
Gather together at Athen’s Restaurant, 500 N. 4th Ave., (in their side room – just for us) for camaraderie and talk about the upcoming play.  Athens is close to The Rogue Theatre, so we will walk together up 4th Avenue to enjoy the play.

DETAILS

For the free Open Talk, you do not need to RSVP if you plan on attending (but go – early).

For the brunch with conversation with Barbara and Stephanie, RSVP to yaleclub.ariz@icloud.com or mkaestle@comcast.net that you will attend, in order to inform the Arizona Inn.

For the dinner, RSVP as above if you will dine (full menu) at Athens.  We will each pay for our own drinks and dinner (separate checks) and have plenty of time to walk together up to The Rogue Theatre.

For tickets to the play Thu., Sep. 14, 7:30 PM at The Rogue Theatre, call the ticket office at (520) 551-2053.  A a block of seats will be reserved for us.  Tell them that you are with the Yale Club to be eligible for a modest discount on your ticket.

Marianne Kaestle
mkaestle@comcast.net
(520) 344-9023