Feb. 29–Mar. 25, 2012 
By Romulus Linney
Playwright Sponsor: Francie & Paul Duden
Directed by Kevin Jones
Featuring Jerry Foster, Stephan Henry, Dennis Kelly, Carl Kennedy, Brenda Phillips, Harold Warren, Andrea White
“When a black child is promising, like you were, like I was, we get put through school. Why? Not just to read books. To teach what that old lady really wants taught. And what is that? To be able, someday, to stand up to the white man. “
“Profile Theatre’s A Lesson Before Dying a riveting examination of racial injustice”
The Oregonian
Behind the Scenes interview with director Kevin E. Jones
Join us on Facebook for audience response to A Lesson Before Dying
Based on the 1993 novel by Ernest J. Gaines, this play by Romulus Linney is set in 1948 in the small Louisiana bayou town of Bayonne. A young black man has been wrongly accused and convicted of murder and awaits his death in the parish courthouse. His godmother has made it her mission that he die with the dignity of an innocent man, and she enlists the unwilling aid of the town’s young black teacher to carry this out. With the convicted man’s life compared to that as no better than a hog, questions of racism and morality are confronted in visits between the two men. The lessons shared and learned transform them both – along with the entire town.
Wednesdays-Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Sundays at 2:00 pm
Mat Chat: following all Sunday 2:00pm matinees, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25
Mat Chat – SPECIAL NOTE:
We are pleased to partner with
The August Wilson Red Door Project in the presentation of
special additional Mat Chats following the Sunday 3/11, 3/18 & 3/25
2:00 pm matinees of A Lesson Before Dying .
A professional facilitator will lead talk backs between the actors and
audience exploring the racial themes of the play and how they relate to
our contemporary lives in Portland.
Tickets:
Call 503-242-0080 OR Online
Or CLICK HERE for Season Subscription information
All regular season performances are held at:
Theater! Theatre!
3430 SE Belmont Street, Portland, OR