A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

The Agitators

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  1w, 1m

Mat Smart

The Agitators tells of the enduring but tempestuous friendship of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. Great allies? Yes. And at times, great adversaries.

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The Agitators

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    1w, 1m
  • Duration
    Duration
    105 Minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Docudrama/History
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades

  • Winner! 2017 Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards

Details

Summary
The Agitators tells of the enduring but tempestuous friendship of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. Great allies? Yes. And at times, great adversaries. Young abolitionists when they met in Rochester in the 1840s, they were full of hopes, dreams and a common purpose. As they grew to become the cultural icons we know today, their movements collided and their friendship was severely tested. This is the story of that 45-year friendship – from its beginning in Rochester, through a Civil War and to the highest halls of government. They agitated the nation, they agitated each other and, in doing so, they helped shape the Constitution and the course of American history.
Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups
  • Time Period American Civil War Era
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 105 Minutes

Media

"In Mat Smart's powerful telling, what goes down between Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass goes way beyond bio-rama. Here we see two noble seekers of equality and hear heartstrings of the history they left unfinished." - DC Metro Theater Arts

"Smart's compelling script weaves through historical periods and sprinkles touchstone events that reinforce their humanity." - DC Theatre Scene

"The Agitators unfolds like a scrapbook, with snippets of conversation between Douglass and Anthony during their decades-long struggles for abolition and voting rights." - Seattle Times

Videos

  • The Agitators - Phoenix Theatre Promo youtube thumbnail

    The Agitators - Phoenix Theatre Promo

  • Your Guide to The Agitators youtube thumbnail

    Your Guide to The Agitators

  • The Agitators is a Must See! youtube thumbnail

    The Agitators is a Must See!

  • The Agitators - Falcon Theatre Promo youtube thumbnail

    The Agitators - Falcon Theatre Promo

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Authors

Mat Smart

Mat Smart

Mat Smart has written 25 full-length plays that have been produced around the United States. His play The Agitators, about the friendship between Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass, is in the midst of 15 different productions from Maine to Seattle. Select plays include: ...

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