Happening This Saturday

On Saturday, November 15, at 4:00 p.m., Christ Church Arts is presenting Censored: Banned Books and Freedom of Speech by Carolyn Kay Brancato. 

The play was first produced at the former John Houseman Theatre in New York City in 1991, under the auspices of the National Coalition Against Censorship, in response to the wave of book banning taking place at that time. Productions in other cities followed. Inspired by the more recent book banning wave, which began in 2021, The Foundry Theatre in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, mounted two sold-out productions in 2023 and 2024.

During the performance, the actors will bring the audience into key moments in the battle against censorship, as far back as Puritan days. They will read from books that have been banned and explore the increasingly draconian penalties teachers, librarians, journalists, and others face as they stand up to organized censorship and attempts to silence their First Amendment rights of freedom of speech. The audience will be invited to a talkback following the play.

The performance takes place at Christ Church Episcopal, 431 Union Street. All proceeds benefit the artists and the preservation of the historic church. Click here to purchase tickets.