Otabenga
Play Description
In 1904 the city of Saint Louis hosted a World’s Fair. One event was titled the “University of Man,” meant to celebrate the emerging science of anthropology and popular notions of biological evolution. ‘Race specimens’ from around the world were gathered and brought to Saint Louis to be displayed for the crowds: Indians, Eskimos, Africans and other ‘rare’ races, including, to much acclaim, the pygmies. A young Southerner and self-styled African explorer, Samuel Phillips Verner, traveled to the Belgian Congo as a Special Agent for the Saint Louis Fair. He brought back with him several pygmies. One was Otabenga. The play, based on a true story, recounts the personal journeys of these two men through America at the turn of the 20th century, a society perhaps at the height of its power, its promise, its self-confidence, and its arrogance.
Production Info
Cast: 8 total (2 female, 6 male, multiethnic cast)Full Length Drama (about 115 minutes)
Multiple Sets
Period Costumes
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- About the Book
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Press Quotes
“Stunning … genuinely chilling … a riveting evening in the theater … Strand is a truly theatrical writer.” —Washington Post
Special Notes
If original stage producers credits appear in bold below, all licensees are required to include them in the following form on the title page in all programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play and in all advertising in which the full cast appears in size of type not less than ten percent (10%) of the size of the title of the Play:
Originally produced by Signature Theater, Arlington VA
In addition, the following must appear within all programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play:
by special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing Inc, NYC
www.broadwayplaypub.com