Mosaic Theater Company Announces THE AGITATORS

Mosaic Theater Company of DC is proud to announce the DC premiere of The Agitators by Mat Smart. This historical, yet extraordinarily topical play examines the 45-year friendship and occasional rivalry of two American icons-Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony.

Mosaic is producing The Agitators at The Atlas Performing Arts Center from October 24 through November 25. Directed by KenYatta Rogers, it features Ro Boddie as Frederick Douglass, Marni Penning as Susan B. Anthony, with Adanna Paul and Josh Adams as ensemble members.

It's 1849. Women's rights activist Susan B. Anthony and social reformer Frederick Douglass first meet in Rochester, NY. They are two young activists full of optimism and ideals, steeling themselves for the battles to come. Over the next 45 years, they journey from allies to adversaries and back, from their beginnings in Rochester, through the Civil War to the highest halls of government in Washington D.C. Theirs is a story of defiance, of rebellion, of revolution. They agitated the nation. They agitated each other. They changed the course of history.

Mosaic's Founding Artistic Director Ari Roth notes, "The drama of this play comes from how these two fellow travelers - both architects of major movements - came to disappoint each other just as much as they were there to spur and rally each other on. Playwright Mat Smart does a nifty trick by making this a play of ideas and of two incredibly complex, sensitive, caring allies. Who gets to go through the door first? Smart animates this question while locating the gender and racial biases in both the civil rights and women's suffragette movements. But most compellingly, we come to feel deeply for these friends who lose a lot while accomplishing so much in their lifetimes."

The Agitators premiered in 2017 at Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, NY. Playing to over 15,000 people over four weeks, it was the best-selling world premiere in the theatre's 45-year history.

Mosaic believes Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony's struggle for social justice is just as relevant today as it was in their time. Throughout the run, we will be drawing parallels between their fight and modern-day Agitators. Fifteen performances will be followed by post-show discussions, covering topics such as Inexhaustible Souls in Collision: The Struggle for the 15th Amendment Meets the Claims of Race and Gender; The Words of Douglass and Anthony: A Literary Perspective; and Fight The Power: Today's Agitators. Playwright Mat Smart will also be joining us for discussion with the cast.

Director KenYatta Rogers adds, "Agitators by nature disturb the status quo. And although Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass seem to have been born for the parts they played in human rights and social justice campaigns of their day, they tested and trained each other, deepening their commitment to the causes they served and to the America they hoped to transform. We are discovering in rehearsal the many ways they learn to love and the many ways they learn to lead."

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: https://www.mosaictheater.org/the-agitator. VALET PARKING AVAILABLE AT 1360 H ST NE on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, as well as Saturday and Sunday matinees.

Independent, intercultural, entertaining, and uncensored, Mosaic Theater Company of DC is committed to making transformational, socially-relevant art, producing plays by authors on the front lines of conflict zones, and building a fusion community to address some of the most pressing issues of our times. Dedicated to making our theater a model of diversity and inclusion at every strata, on stage and off, Mosaic invests in the new as we keep abreast of our changing and challenging times to ensure that our theater is a responsive gathering space, all the while nurturing and producing art of the highest order. Visit us at mosaictheater.org.

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