Two days before election day, FYT inaugurates Emancipation Project with personal portrayal of Lincoln

Posted: Oct. 31, 2012 at 8:38 a.m.

FLINT – A chamber performance of "The Heavens Are Hung in Black" on Nov. 4 is the first of four plays in Flint Youth Theatre's Emancipation Project commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Emanicpation Proclamation.

"The Heavens Are Hung" in Black is written by James Still. The play examines Lincoln from an intensely personal point of view. From the death of his son, Willie, to the prosecution of the war, the months leading up to his great decision were filled with heartbreak and setbacks.

Playwright Still was commissioned by Ford's Theatre to write this play in celebration of the theater's renovation and reopening. FYT's chamber performance of "The Heavens Are Hung in Black" commemorates Lincoln's presidential legacy two days before the U.S. national election.

The evening begins with a chamber performance of the play at 6 p.m., followed by a panel discussion and wine and cheese reception.

Tickets for "The Heavens Are Hung in Black" are $25 and are available at Flint Youth Theatre, by calling 810-237-1530 or online at FlintYouthTheatre.org. This play is recommended for ages 14 and up.

"The Heavens Are Hung in Black" is part of FYT's Emancipation Project, a season-long exploration of emancipation, from the historical U.S. event in 1862 to its immediate aftermath, and through to the present day. The project consists of the following four plays:

The Heavens Are Hung in Black
by James Still
An FYT Special Event Chamber Performance
Sunday, Nov. 4, 6 p.m.
Tickets: $25

Gee's Bend
by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder
An FYT Signature Series Production
Feb. 15-March 3, 2013
Tickets: $12-$18

Gem of the Ocean
by August Wilson
An FYT Off the Press Staged Reading
Sunday, Feb. 24, 6 p.m.
Tickets: $7

The Whipping Man
by Matthew Lopez
An FYT Off the Press Staged Reading
Sunday, March 24, 6 p.m.
Tickets: $7

A four-play package is available for $45.

For more information about Flint Youth Theatre or to reserve tickets to "The Heavens Are Hung in Black" or The Emancipation Project, call 810-237-1530 or visit www.FlintYouthTheatre.org.

About Flint Youth Theatre
Through public performances, school matinees and acting classes, Flint Youth Theatre's resident professional company serves students age 3 through college, and audiences of children and families, teens and adults. Imaginative, daring and insightful, the main-stage Signature Series of plays for all audiences are drawn from literature, folklore, fantasy, history and social issues.