EISENHOWER: THIS PIECE OF GROUND to Host Special Post-Performance Talkback Event

Tony Award winner John Rubinstein is returning to the New York stage starring as President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground, a new American play by Richard Hellesen and directed by Peter Ellenstein. Following acclaimed Los Angeles engagements, The New Los Angeles Repertory Company (Peter Ellenstein, Producing Artistic Director) present the Off-Broadway engagement, now playing through July 30 at Theatre at St. Clements (423 W. 46th Street, NYC). 

Following the July 10 performance, Rubinstein will invite audience members to remain in their seats for a special talkback event featuring special guests including Anne Brownell Sloane, former President of The Eisenhower Foundation and daughter of President Eisenhower's Attorney General Herbert Brownell Jr.



Adapted from a vast array of General Eisenhower's memoirs, speeches, and letters, Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground is a candid and fascinating fictional eavesdropping on President Dwight D. Eisenhower at his Gettysburg, Pennsylvania farm. It is 1962 and The New York Times Magazine has published its first list ranking the American Presidents in order of greatness. Pondering his placement on the list, Eisenhower looks back on his life - his Kansas upbringing, his decorated Army career, his victories in World War II, and his two terms as President – contemplating the qualities and adversities that make an American President great.

“I had never before done a one-person play,” says John Rubinstein. “I had often thought that I would like to try it, but never found the person to portray or the piece to interpret -- until Peter Ellenstein sent me this inspiring play by Richard Hellesen. I think that people need to hear these profound, personal, and uplifting words from an actual U.S. President during these very trying times. I was so gratified by the overwhelming enthusiasm we were shown when we premiered in L.A. last fall, and we are all extremely proud and happy to now bring this play to New York audiences this summer.”

“With such division in the country today, I wanted to go back in our history and look at an individual who led with faith and optimism during a very crucial time," says playwright Richard Hellesen. “Despite the Cold War, McCarthyism and the start of the Civil Rights movement, Eisenhower believed in Democracy. On our stage, Eisenhower says ‘some days it feels like democracy is going to have a hell of a time persevering. But this piece of ground, that we all share...if we're going to leave our young people something better, then we just can't be complacent. …We have to keep choosing the harder right instead of the easier wrong. Never be content with half-truth when the whole truth can be ours.’”

“I knew almost nothing about Eisenhower except that he was in charge of World War II and was President during the ‘Leave it to Beaver’ years,” says director Peter Ellenstein. “My image of Ike was a somewhat kindly, stodgy, conservative figurehead. But after reading some of his speeches, I discovered that he really was one of the most fascinating and important people in American history. His life and career were packed with so many world-altering events. Richard Hellesen, has crawled inside Ike’s skin to fashion this remarkable play that tells Eisenhower’s story and speaks with profound hope to our own times. In John Rubinstein, we are so fortunate to have found an actor who could interpret the complexity of Ike’s intellect, judgement, scope, humor and humanity.”

Developed by New Los Angeles Repertory Company, Eisenhower: This Piece of Groundwas first presented fall 2022 in Los Angeles by Theatre West in association with New Los Angeles Repertory Company. 

The New York premiere of Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground features a scenic design by Michael Deegan; costume consultation by Sarah Conly; lighting design by Esquire Jauchem; and projection and sound design by Joe Huppert. The Producing Team includes Victoria Morris of Lexikat Artists, Adam Weinstock of Red Spear Productions, Robina Riccitiello, Pierre Vuilleumier, Dennis Trunfio, SUNYA 1984, and Tom Kirdahy. General Management is by LDK Productions, LLC, and Marketing and Promotions is by Table 7 Strategy, LLC. 

Photo credit: Maria Baranova