The Justice Theater Project
with Burning Coal Theatre
Presents
A Sentiment
By Elaine Romero
The Justice Theater Project is partnering with Burning Coal Theatre to present the filmed short play, A Sentiment by Elaine Romero.
“A Sentiment” is available for purchase for school use. Email us for information. thejusticetheaterproject@gmail.com
Here is a short interview with the playwright: Click HERE
Lucretia Mott arrives home late one night in 1848 to find her husband John waiting by the fire. An astonishingly frank conversation ensues as the 55-year-old wife and mother boldly and lovingly explains her co-creation of the Declaration of Sentiments, and her work to create a new future of possibilities for her daughters, their daughters, and all women.
The 19th Amendment Project is a collection of short plays written by some of the most accomplished women and/or non-binary playwrights working today, writing on the passage of the 19th Amendment 100 years ago and its ongoing impact. Each of the 14 plays was released virtually, one at a time, between August Aug 22 – 30. and ended in September 2020.
The production partner is The League of Women Voters of Wake County
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
Elaine Romero is an award-winning playwright who has had her plays presented at the Alley Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Kennedy Center, across the U.S. and abroad. Recent commissions: Ford’s Theatre (Modern Slave), Arizona Theatre Company (Title IX), Goodman Theatre (Playwright’s Unit, A Work of Art), NNPN/Kitchen Dog Theater (Ponzi, Edgerton New American Play Award). This past season new productions included Like Heaven (Arizona Repertory Theatre), Undocumented (Cal State Dominguez Hills), Revoluciones (Latino Theatre Company with Foro Shakespeare/Mexico), and Bloody River (Union College).
The Justice Theater Project’s, A SENTIMENT takes place in 1848 as Lucretia Mott arrives home late one night to find her husband John waiting by the fire. An astonishingly frank conversation ensues as the 55-year-old wife and mother boldly and lovingly explains her co-creation of the Declaration of Sentiments, and her work to create a new future of possibilities for her daughters, their daughters, and all women.
Playwright, Elaine Romero shared her inspiration, "The play was a commission from Burning Coal Theatre for the 19th Amendment Project. Post-Covid-19, they have enlisted collaborators to see this project through to fruition. Now, as short films. A number of us were commissioned and they really gave us pace to think about the 19th Amendment for the 100th anniversary of women receiving the right to vote. They provided some research, but honestly, we had a blank slate. I love commissions that give me the space to discover what I think matters about a particular subject. I had always been concerned about the connection between the suffragettes and racism and has bothered me for some time. I woke up in the wee hours and Lucretia Mott's name was in my head. I had barely heard of her, but when I did more research, I saw she was an abolitionist and a suffragette. So, for me, she embodied both a person committed to anti-slavery, but also to the rights of women and first wave feminism. (Black men had received the right to vote in advance of women.) Mott bridges both worlds. In my research, I noticed her husband had signed the document, The Declaration of Sentiments, which the suffragettes had based on the Declaration of Independence. I imagined a conversation that might have led to him signing and I found the play!”
The show was filmed at The Lamar-Brown-Arthur House was built in 1896 for Alethea Hawkins Lamar. It was meticulously restored in Victorian style by Matthew Brown in 2016-2019. Mr. Brown is honored to host the filming of this 19th Amendment piece, and surely Alethea Lamar would be even prouder.
Director, Jerry Sipp, said, “The Justice Theater Project is excited to be featured in The 19th Amendment Project, as it not only celebrates women's rights but also encourages everyone to exercise the hard-won right to vote. Elaine Romero's wonderful play aligns perfectly with The Justice Theater Project's mission and core values. Lucretia Mott was not only a pioneer in the fight for women's rights, she and her husband John were also abolitionists who refused to use or purchase products that came from the slave trade. Were it not for her early efforts as a co-founder of the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 and her valuable contributions to the writing of A SENTIMENT, we would likely not be celebrating this important anniversary in 2020.”
“Curiously, A SENTIMENT, while championing women's rights, is at its heart a love story. The love and partnership of Lucretia and John helped them persevere through the trials and tribulations of living an ethical life and their fight for justice. They paid a heavy financial and social price for their work, yet their commitment to the causes, as well as their commitment to one another, made the cost worth it for all of us. It has been a joy to get to know Elaine Romero. She is a true professional who cares passionately about her writing and relishes collaboration with other artists. She has been open to our interpretation of her words and ideas. We have benefited greatly from her personal insights into this piece, a luxury we rarely have in theatre. When we unveil this show, I think our audience will be shocked to learn that this was realized with an ultra-low budget. The historic home provided by Matthew Brown, the historically accurate costumes, and seasoned professional husband/wife acting team of Betsy Sharp and Jason Sharp reflect the generosity that made this production creatively and financially possible.
