The timely one-woman play,The Peculiar Patriot, returns to The National Black Theatre this month. It is a stinging indictment of the criminal justice system written by a woman (Liza Jessie Peterson), who worked for nearly two decades at Rikers Island.
“It’s important to humanize the numbers, to put a human face on the draconian statistic of 2.3 million citizens behind bars and the additional millions of family members and friends connected to the incarcerated individual,” said Peterson, who worked in various capacities at Rikers Island for nearly two decades and who was featured in Ava DuVernay’s Emmy award-winning documentary 13th.
The play returns to the stage thanks to a grant awarded to The Peculiar Patriot by philanthropist Agnes Gund’s Art for Justice Fund, and includes a national tour. The fund is aimed at art that will help reform the criminal justice system.
The Peculiar Patriot is produced by The National Black Theatre and Hi-ARTS. Previews will take place on July 11-12, with an opening on Friday, July 13, running through July 29th. Dates, Times and Ticket Information Here.
The National Black Theatre is located at 2031 Fifth Avenue, between 125-126th Streets in East Harlem.