Ian Ruskin Brings TO BEGIN THE WORLD OVER AGAIN: THE LIFE OF THOMAS PAINE to Boston

Actor Ian Ruskin brings his acclaimed one-man play To Begin the World Over Again: The Life of Thomas Paine to Boston on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at 7:30 p.m., This Boston premiere at Faneuil Hall, follows performances around the world, including a Los Angeles run and, most recently, The Public Theater in New York. The film of the play aired on PBS over the July 4th holiday. Tickets for the play are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/to-begin-the-world-over-again-the-life-of-thomas-paine-tickets-37165226192

No other Founding Father was anywhere close to Thomas Paine in his vision of democracy. Paine's book Common Sense sold hundreds of thousands of copies to a population of two million and everybody read it or had it read to them. It was the spark that ignited the American Revolution and remains in print today over 200 years later. He helped shape our national character and inspires us to be better guardians of that legacy. Paine based his beliefs on one simple yet powerful idea, "justice for all."

This call for justice resounds in America now, echoing the words of Martin Luther King: "the moral arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice." Today's political environment, while never specifically mentioned in the play, reminds us to revisit Paine's words with his calls for the end of slavery and voter suppression, and for a government that cares for its citizens and provides equality for women. In this time of division and despair, we need, more than ever, to hear Paine's words.

The eloquence and passion of Thomas Paine are on full view in Ian Ruskin's vivid portrayal of this fiery patriot and Founding Father. Actor-writer Ruskin captures Paine's brilliance, contradictions and contrariness in his one-man play about the radical enlightenment figure that helped forge America's core. He advocated for a society based on the common good individual freedom, and a belief in scientific and social progress. He was the first to introduce the concept of a guaranteed minimum income and strongly believed that men who did not own property should still be allowed to vote and hold office, beliefs not shared by other Founding Fathers. Paine was much loved and much hated, one of history's greatest propagandists and worst politicians, a dangerous and very nearly deadly combination.

Actor and playwright Ian Ruskin trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and then worked in UK repertory companies, London's West End, and television and film. Highlights included working in the Laurence Olivier "King Lear" for Granada Television, playing Jack in "Jack the Ripper" at the Players Theatre, London and performing the one-man play "The Man Himself", written by Alan Drury at the Soho Poly in London and at Stages Theater in Hollywood, where it was Critics Choice in the Los Angeles Times and LA Weekly. Arriving in Los Angeles Ruskin took on guest star roles, usually playing the intelligent bad guy, in shows such as "Murder She Wrote", "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" and "MacGyver". Then he was cast to play a real-life character - Union Leader Harry Bridges, and his life changed. He discovered that Bridges was a social visionary, a man whose beliefs and values inspired him and could inspire audiences, something missing on the soundstages of MacGyver. So, Ruskin wrote his one-man play "From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks", which he has since performed over 300 times to approximately 50,000 people worldwide. This led to a film of a live performance, directed by legendary filmmaker Haskell Wexler, which aired across America on PBS for 4 years, making it available to 150 million Americans. ?The film of the Paine play, also directed by Haskell Wexler, aired on 180+ PBS stations over the July 4th holiday this year. Ian Ruskin has recently received a National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution History Award Medal for his portrayal of Thomas Paine.

"It's an honor to be a part of this kind of show. It has a lot to say about not just our history, but who we are and who we should be." -Haskell Wexler, Academy Award Winning Cinematographer

For more information about the play, visit www.thelifeofthomaspaine.org

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