When an escaped slave shows up at Fort Monroe demanding sanctuary, General Benjamin Butler is faced with an impossible moral dilemma—follow the letter of the law or make a game-changing move that could alter the course of U.S. history? This little known pivotal historical event is deftly dramatized by playwright Strand
“[BEN BUTLER is] part comedy, part historical drama and part biography, often all at once…Just call it splendid…The beauty of the script…is how it approaches thorny topics. In short, it’s a hoot. Rather than dry exposition or long-winded discussions, these men use wordplay that is by turns sarcastic, droll and witty…[Strand’s] comic voice is…clever without being glib, meaningful without being pretentious. It’s a funny and impressive mixture.” —The New York Times. “…an extraordinary, artful script…spirited, intense, often humorous dialogue makes this show completely captivating…a significant piece of theater and a timeless exploration of social conscience and individual responsibility.” —BroadwayWorld.com.
Director Albert Bostick leads a cast of four metro area actors in telling the unique story. Chris Crane stars as the infamous Ben Butler who was as controversial in real life as in this dramatized tale. Making his Carpenter Square debut is Britton Adams as the fearless Shepard Mallory, the runaway who faces off with Butler. Sean Spencer portrays Lieutenant Kelly, Butler’s assistant, and David Burkhart is Major Cary, a Confederate officer who comes to retrieve Mallory. The production team includes stage manager Janey Gunter, with set design by Ben Hall, light design by Brayden Pogson, and costumes by Rhonda Clark.
Specific performance dates and times span four weekends: 8 p.m. shows are May 17-18, 24-25, May 31- June 1 and June 7-8. 7:30 p.m. Thursday shows are May 23 and 30 and the one 2:00 p.m. matinee is June 2. For more information, visit www.carpentersquare.com. For tickets, visit carpentersquare.com or call 405-232-6500. The public may also download the new Carpenter Square Theatre app from their app store and make purchases from there.
Carpenter Square Theatre is at 1009 W. Reno, Oklahoma City, OK.
The Children– a dark comedy-drama by Lucy Kirkwood (1/17/25-2/2/25)
The Game's Afoot, or Holmes for the Holidays (11/29/24-12/15/24)
Dial M for Murder (10/25/24-11/10/24)
Making Sweet Tea and Other Secrets – a dramedy by Paul Elliott (9/13/24-9/29/24)
THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT a comedy by Jeremy Kareken & David Murrell and Gordon Farrell (6/28/24-7/20/24)
Meteor Shower (7/9/21-7/31/21)
Skeleton Crew (5/21/21-6/12/21)
Ada and the Engine (4/9/21-5/1/21)
Sorry, Wrong Number (10/16/20-10/17/20)
The Library (2/21/20-3/14/20)
Silent Sky (2/28/25-3/16/25)
Women of a Certain Age (4/11/25-4/27/25)
Bris Amiss! The Musical (5/3/25-5/4/25)
Native Gardens (5/23/25-6/8/25)
She Kills Monsters (7/11/25-7/27/25)
Videos
BEAUTIFUL
Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma (7/8 - 7/13) | ||
Je''Caryous Johnson Presents: Jason''s Lyric Live!
OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater (2/10 - 2/10) | ||
& Juliet
Civic Center Music Hall (4/29 - 5/4) | ||
The Children– a dark comedy-drama by Lucy Kirkwood
Carpenter Square Theatre (1/17 - 2/2)
PHOTOS
VIDEOS
DISCOUNT
| ||
9 to 5
University of Central Oklahoma (4/10 - 4/13) | ||
WAITRESS
Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma (2/12 - 3/2) | ||
Silent Sky
Carpenter Square Theatre (2/28 - 3/16) | ||
VIEW SHOWS ADD A SHOW |
Recommended For You