Book-It Repertory Theatre

What is Adventures of Huckleberry Finn without its original 219 racial epithets? And what is an English classroom without Huck Finn? In both cases, the answer might be “contemporarily appropriate,” “politically correct”—or “censored.” Book-It’s upcoming staging of Mark Twain’s classic, however, is decidedly uncensored, and in advance of the production, this teaching/performance lecture touches on various approaches to the text: How do you teach it? How do you perform it? And what can we still learn from it?

Participants include Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Uncensored Director Jane Jones and Adapter Judd Parkin, Franklin High School teacher David Ehrich, poet and teaching artist Daemond Arrindell (Arts Corp, Writers in the Schools), and Book-It Director of Education Gail Sehlhorst. Featuring actors Christopher Morson (Huck) and Geoffery Simmons (Jim), and Bushwick Book Club, Seattle.

Presented by Town Hall as part of its Arts & Culture series with Book-It Repertory Theatre and Elliott Bay Book Company.

WHEN: Monday, April 1 at 7:30 – 9:30 pm
WHERE: Downstairs at Town Hall; enter on Seneca Street (1119 8th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101)
TICKETS: Admission is $5.00. Advance tickets on sale now at Town Hall’s website or call 888–377-4510. Tickets will also be available at the door beginning at 6:30 pm.
HOMEWORK: Read or reread Chapters I – XI

Stay for a short post-show talk back with the cast following the performance of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Uncensored.

WHEN: Sunday, April 21 4:45 – 5:10 pm
WHERE: Center Theatre (in the Seattle Center Armory)

Join us for a pre-show viewing of the short film by Amy Mayes and Tom McGregor: A True Story based on Mark Twain’s short story, featuring Treavor Boykin and Book-It cast member Gin Hammond and After Glow, a post-show conversation led by Central District Forum Director Sharon Williams. Wine and beer will be available.

WHEN: Wednesday, April 24 (Pre-Funk 6:30 – 7:00 pm After Glow 9:45 – 10:30 pm)
WHERE: Center Theatre Lobby (in the Seattle Center Armory)
TICKETS: Admission is free.

A panel discussion and boxed dinner with Twain scholars, David Bradley, Associate Professor at University of Oregon; Dr. Jocelyn Chadwick, Lecturer at Harvard University Graduate School of Education; and Shelley Fisher Fishkin, Professor at Stanford University. Made possible by support from Humanities Washington.

WHEN: Saturday, April 27 at 5:00 pm
WHERE: Center Theatre Lobby (in the Seattle Center Armory)
TICKETS: Admission is free. RSVP for a $15 boxed dinner by calling our box office 206.216.0833 or bring your own.

A panel discussion on race and racism centering around Mark Twain’s novel moderated by CD Forum’s Sharon Williams featuring visiting scholars David Bradley, Dr. Jocelyn Chadwick, Shelley Fisher Fishkin, and Seattle educator/writer Nancy Rawles, author of My Jim: a novel that tells the story of Jim’s wife and children whom he leaves behind when he escapes down the river with Huck.

WHEN: Sunday, April 28 2:00 – 4:00 pm
WHERE: Northwest African American Museum
TICKETS: $6.00 at the door

Stay for a short post-show talk back with the cast following the performance of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Uncensored.

WHEN: Sunday, April 28 4:45 – 5:10 pm
WHERE: Center Theatre (in the Seattle Center Armory)

A post-show conversation led by Central District Forum Director Sharon Williams. Wine and beer will be available.

WHEN: Sunday, May 5 4:45 – 5:30 pm
WHERE: Center Theatre (in the Seattle Center Armory)
TICKETS: Admission is free