A CHICAGO PREVIEW OF A NEW PLAY ABOUT PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY “The Interview: JFK” November 22nd, 2013 – November 24th, 2013
On November 22, 2013, the 50th anniversary of the death of President John F. Kennedy, the National Pastime Theater will present The Interview: JFK. In this new work, Chicago playwright Alan Marshall seeks to provide America’s 35th president a forum to speak with candor about his life and presidency.
“JFK’s untimely death prevented him from being able to write his memoir,” said Marshall. “Consequently, many others have written about him, but we do not hear his voice.”
Marshall’s play seeks to separate JFK, the man and president, from the prevailing myths surrounding his life and presidency. Act I focuses on his upbringing, personal life and early political career. Act II explores various episodes of his thousand day presidency including: the Bay of Pigs, civil rights, the Cuban Missile Crisis and others.
“What the general public is most familiar with regarding President Kennedy are his assassination and the salacious details that have been attached to his legacy,” Marshall offered. “What is missing from the national conversation is the degree to which he evolved as President and his bold and far reaching initiatives on civil rights and world peace.”
Marshall has created a fictional setting for a top secret town hall forum in August, 1963 wherePresident Kennedy and his brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, are questioned by two moderators and a nationally selected audience.
The Premise
In 1963, a powerful think tank, in cahoots with the United States Information Agency, was curious about how much candor could the American people handle about their leaders and the actual state of the nation’s affairs? So, a foundation funded a series of top secret events where these public figures participated in town hall meetings and spoke off the record. No reporters, no recording, and everyone in attendance had to sign a confidentiality agreement which would be enforced, if necessary, by the FBI.
The Project
THE INTERVIEW is a new theatrical series created by Alan Marshall to explore the characters in the universe of his project called THE MARCH Civil Rights Arts Project. Alan Marshall began writing for the stage in 2010 with THE MARCH: A Civil Rights Opera exploring the events surrounding the 1963 March on Washington. He has also written several mass meeting performances that take audiences back to episodes of the civil rights movement. These include: Remembering Medgar Evers, Shades of Mississippi, The Birmingham Children’s March, and Prelude to a Dream.
The Goodman Theatre in Chicago co-produced Prelude to a Dream on August 18, 2013 during their celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington. Marshall directed the Goodman Theatre co-production and then took Prelude to a Dream to Washington, D.C. where he directed performances on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial (8/26/13) and at Metropolitan A.M.E. Church on the eve of the 50th Anniversary.
Opening Night “White House East Room Soiree”
This special opening night party, celebrating the presidency of John F. Kennedy, will take place on the set of THE INTERVIEW: JFK following the performance. It will feature food, drinks, music and a chance to meet the cast and creative team of THE INTERVIEW: JFK. Attendees are invited to dress in period clothing, black tie or come as they are.
EVENT DETAILS
The National Pastime Theater presents Alan Marshall’s The Interview: JFK
Friday, November 22nd, 2013 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 23rd, 2013 – 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 24th, 2013 – 3:00 p.m.
National Pastime Theater in the Preston Bradley Center
941 W. Lawrence Avenue – Fourth Floor
Chicago, IL 60640
Tickets: $25
Opening Night Performance & Soiree Tickets: $50