THRIVE 125: Eternal Polygamy and the Struggle for Statehood

Join Plan-B and Sunstone Magazine for a live reading of Jenifer Nii’s play SUFFRAGE.

Register here now: https://us02web.zoom.us/…/reg…/WN_QD4l-ovAQKS8Sk8y8FJIMQ
https://us02web.zoom.us/…/reg…/WN_QD4l-ovAQKS8Sk8y8FJIMQ

SUFFRAGE is the story of Ruth (early 20s, the fourth of five wives) and Frances (a generation older, the second of five wives). The action takes place in Utah, from 1887 up until Utah attains statehood in 1896. The intention is that the play be performed on a nearly bare stage with all locations minimally suggested. SUFFRAGE was commissioned by Plan-B Theatre Company (Salt Lake City, Utah) and receives its world premiere 4–14 April 2013, directed by Cheryl Cluff and featuring April Fossen as Frances and Sarah Young as Ruth.

The play will be introduced by Lindsay Hansen Park of Sunstone Magazine.

Lindsay Hansen Park is the executive director of the Sunstone Education Foundation and the host of the accalimed Year of Polygamy podcast. She also co-hosts and produces the Sunstone Mormon History podcast. She currently writes for Patheos, as well as other online publications. Her biography on the life and works of Juanita Brooks published by Signature Books is forthcoming. She resides in Salt Lake City with her three children.

April Fossen’s Salt Lake City acting credits include MERCURY, BULL SHARK ATTACK, and BLACKBERRY WINTER (Salt Lake Acting Company); THE AUDACITY, PILOT PROGRAM, and SUFFRAGE (Plan-B Theatre Company); A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (The Grand Theatre); STAGE KISS (Wasatch Theatre Company- Best Theatre Performance, City Weekly 2016); AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (Silver Summit/Utah Rep); LOVE, ANN (Pussycat Productions-2019 Great Salt Lake Fringe Pick); and TITUS ANDRONICUS (Pinnacle Acting Company). Regional credits include work with Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the California Shakespeare Festival. April holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from UC Berkeley.

Sarah Young is thrilled to have the opportunity to tell the incredible story of Frances and Ruth again in this reading of SUFFRAGE. A native of Salt Lake, Sarah has worked as both an actor and stage manager at many local theatres, including Plan-B Theatre, The Grand Theatre, and Salt Lake Acting Company. Favorite roles include Sabina in THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH (Grand Theatre), Katherine in THESE SHINING LIVES (People Productions), and, of
course, Ruth in SUFFRAGE (Plan-B). Sarah is a graduate of the University of Utah Department of Theatre, and is currently finishing her Master’s Degree in Arts Administration at Southern Utah University.

Suffrage is licensed through Leicester Bay Theatricals, Publisher and Performance Rights Licensing Agent, Newport, Maine.

This event is made possible with support from the Utah Department of Heritage and Arts, Utah Humanities, Plan B Theatre Company, and Sunstone Magazine.