Long Wharf Theatre is bringing a bold, verbatim production to the Greater New Haven area this September. Titled The Ford/Hill Project, the play runs at the theater’s Hamden venue (515 Sherman Ave) on September 19‑20 and moves to the New Haven location (501 Crescent St) for September 25‑27. The piece is part of the theater’s 62nd season and is themed “The State of the Union,” underscoring the relevance of historic Senate Judiciary Committee hearings to today’s civic conversation.
Verbatim Drama That Lets the Words Speak for Themselves
Each performer wears an in‑ear monitor that feeds live text from the original transcripts. The actors then repeat the words in real time, preserving the cadence and intensity of the original testimonies. The script draws from two pivotal moments in recent history: the 1991 hearing in which Anita Hill testified about alleged sexual harassment by then‑Senator Clarence Thomas, and the 2018 hearing where Dr. Christine Blasey Ford recounted her experience with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Cast Highlights and Creative Direction
Mayaa Boateng delivers Anita Hill’s testimony with a calm, measured composure that reflects Hill’s long career in public service. Christina Kirk portrays Dr. Ford with a raw, urgent edge, emphasizing the personal courage required to speak out. Amara James Aja and Roderick Kirk embody Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh, respectively, each delivering the controversial remarks the nominees made about their hearings.
Director Lee Sunday Evans, who co‑created the piece with Elizabeth Marvel, uses a nine‑chair set to echo the nine seats of the U.S. Supreme Court. The staging is deliberately simple, allowing audience members to focus on the words and the power dynamics they reveal. The cast represents a balanced mix of gender and race, prompting viewers to consider how privilege and identity shape public discourse.
Community Engagement and Healing Space
Understanding the emotional weight of the material, Long Wharf provides a decompression area before, during, and after each performance. After the show, a facilitated conversation led by social worker Dr. Robert Nesbitt and Rev. Martine Gloria Bruno offers audience members a chance to process what they have heard. Dr. Nesbitt guides participants through a grounding breathing exercise, reinforcing the theater’s commitment to community care.
Managing Director Meredith Suttles and Creative Producer Jacob G. Padrón emphasized that the theater aims to foster dialogue that extends beyond the stage. “Our goal is to create a collective experience that encourages thoughtful conversation about truth, accountability, and the role of government,” they said in the curtain speech.
Practical Details
Tickets are available online, with free admission for K‑12 students and a $15 price for college students. The production runs through September 27, offering multiple opportunities for residents of Hamden, New Haven, and surrounding towns to attend.
By presenting these historic testimonies in a live, immersive format, Long Wharf Theatre provides a unique educational experience that aligns with the community’s values of honest discourse, personal responsibility, and respect for the Constitution.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
