X: Or Betty Shabazz vs. the Nation and Julius Caesar this weekend in Stephens Hall Theatre

The performances will be held as part of the ongoing collaboration between Towson University and The Acting Company.

By Sedonia Martin on March 1, 2017

Jimonn Cole stars in The Acting Company's national tour of "X: Or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation" (Photo: T Charles Erickson)
Jimonn Cole stars in The Acting Company's national tour of "X: Or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation" (Photo: T Charles Erickson)

As part of the ongoing collaboration between Towson University and The Acting Company—America’s leading national touring repertory theatre—The Department of Theatre Arts presents The Acting Company for two performances on March 3 and 4 in Stephens Hall Theatre plus panel discussions and a symposium.

Tickets for X: Or Betty Shabazz vs. the Nation and Julius Caesar are $20 regular price; $15 TU faculty, staff and seniors; $10 students and are available at tuboxoffice.com.

X: Or Betty Shabazz vs. the Nation

The culmination of the program begins this weekend on Friday, March 3, at 8 p.m. with X: Or Betty Shabazz vs. the Nation by Marcus Gardley and directed by TU alumnus and The Acting Company Artistic Director Ian Belknap, ’06. A talkback follows the performance. 

Saturday, March 4, The Department of Theatre Arts presents a panel discussion in the Ruth Marder Studio Theatre located in the Center for the Arts from 1 to 2:30 p.m. “Why This Play at This Time for This Audience?” features directors, actors, humanities scholar, and a campus community representative discussing the contemporary relevance of Julius Caesar and X from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. The panel discussion is free and open to students and the public.

Julius Caesar

Saturday, March 4, at 8 p.m. in Stephens Hall Theatre The Acting Company presents Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare and directed by Devin Brain. A talkback follows the performance.

Monday, March 6 from 2 to 3:15 p.m. a panel discussion called “Performance and Social Change” takes place in the University Union Conference Rooms 314 and 315. Join artists from The Acting Company for a moderated panel discussion as they explore how diverse narratives can highlight dramatic differences and challenge dominate cultural “norms.” The event is free and open to students and the public. 

On Tuesday, March 7, from 2 – 3 p.m. in Ruth Marder Studio Theatre in the Center For the Arts, the History Department presents a symposium “Providing Historical Context for the Assassination of Malcolm X: A Symposium.”

 Professors Andrew Diemer and La Shonda Mims of the history department, along with members of The Acting Company, will host a discussion to provide context and further analysis of the world of Malcolm X in 1960s America. Audience members are encouraged to come prepared with questions. The event is free and open to students and the public.

In 2014, TU was selected as one of four institutions nationwide to lead regional consortia of universities, colleges, high schools and arts organizations in a three-year program of professional development opportunities with playwrights, actors, designers, directors and educators from the company.

The Maryland Consortium also includes Morgan State University, Bowie State University, and The Community College of Baltimore County, as well as Carver Center for the Arts. Similar collaborations are underway in Arizona, Missouri and New York.