October 3, 2023, Garden City, NY

Nassau Community College Announces Fall 2023 Theater Performances & Panel Discussions

Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones & The Lightning Thief,
 The Percy Jackson Musical

Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones

WHO:             The Theater and Dance Department at Nassau Community College presents Alabama Story
                          by Kenneth Jones, directed by Abbe Gail Gross.  In addition to the performance there will be
                          two panel discussions hosted by Woodhull Freedom Foundation on Tuesday, October 10 at
                          11:30 a.m. and on October 29, immediately following the performance.

WHAT:            A gentle children’s book with an apparent hidden message stirs the passions of a
                         segregationist State Senator and a no-nonsense State Librarian in 1959 Montgomery,
                         Alabama, just as the civil rights movement is flowering. A contrasting story of childhood
                         friends – an African American man and a woman of white privilege, reunited in adulthood
                         in Montgomery that same year – provides private counterpoint to the public events
                         of the play.

WHEN:            Performances:
                          October 20 – 22 & October 25 – 29, 2023; Streaming show November 3, 2023
                          All shows are at 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinees are at 2:00 p.m.
                          There will be a streaming show on Friday, November 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Panels:
Art Under Fire: The Intersection of Theatre, Censorship, and Free Speech
October 10 at 11:30 a.m.

From Protest to Performance: The Power of Theatre in Free Expression
October 29 immediately following the performance, approximately 4:30 p.m.

WHERE:          Nassau Community College
                           Little Theater – Building
                          Garden City, NY 11530

Panel Discussions
Art Under Fire: The Intersection of Theatre, Censorship, and Free Speech
Tuesday, October 10, 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
The Fall production of Alabama Story tackles tough topics and shows us what can transpire when citizens stand up to those who seek to silence them. While the play is set in the 1960s, some scenarios from the play are timely to America today. Join a panel of artists and advocates for a conversation about the current state of censorship on college campuses and in the theatre. Panelists will also review students’ free speech rights. Moderated by Theater Student Sandra Arias Lopez, Panelists include:

• Sandra Arias-Lopez-Theater Major-Student Moderator 
• Ricci Levy, President & CEO of the Woodhull Freedom Foundation
• Ralph Sevushfrom the Dramatists Guild 
• Kenneth Jones, Playwright Alabama Play
• Katrina M. Frazier, Chair of the Library at NCC
• Frank McKenna, MLS, MPA, Director, Seaford Public Library
• Abbe Gail Gross, Director
• Richard D. Ginsburg, Chair of the Theater and Dance Department

From Protest to Performance: The Power of Theatre in Free Expression
Sunday, October 29, approximately 4:30 p.m.

Alabama Story highlights the topic of book banning and censorship in the US. Join a panel of artists and advocates, after the performance, for a conversation about the play, censorship, book bans and human rights in 2023.

The Lightning Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical

WHO:        The Theater and Dance Department at Nassau Community College presents The
                   Lightning Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical, book by Joe Tracz, music and lyrics by Rob
                   Rokicki. Performance adapted from the book The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, directed
                   by Michael Mullen, choreographed by Miriam Hertson, and musical direction by Craig Coyle.

WHAT:         A raucous romp through the world of ancient Greek Gods, The Lightning Thief takes us on an
                     epic hero’s journey through the perils of dangerous quests, feuding families, and finding out
                     who you truly are – not to mention navigating the terrors of the teenage social hierarchy.
                     When Percy discovers he’s a demigod, he and his friends embark on a treacherous adventure
                     to find Zeus’ missing lightning bolt and prevent a war among the Gods and the Titans.

WHEN:            December 1-3, 5-10
                          All shows are at 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinees are at 2:00 p.m. 

WHERE:         Nassau Community College
                          Little Theater – Building W
                          Garden City, NY 11530

Tickets for both performances can be purchases through the College’s box office. Please email THROFF@NCC.EDU or call 516-572-7676. Pricing information is below:

Alabama Story
General Admission Tickets: $12
NCC Students: Free with valid NCC ID.
Discount Tickets: $10 for Veterans, Alumni, NCC Employees, Seniors 60+
All students (any age): $10
Online streaming performance: $10

The Lightning Thief
General Admission Tickets: $20
NCC Students: Free with valid NCC ID.
Discount Tickets: $15 for Veterans, Alumni, NCC Employees, Seniors 60+
All students (any age with school ID): $10

Presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, serving the Dramatists Play Service collection.

About Nassau Community College

Nassau Community College, a campus of the State University of New York, provides a comprehensive public college experience designed to transform lives through higher education. Serving 14,000 full-time, part-time and continuing education students, NCC offers more than 80 programs that lead to the associate’s degree or certificate. Through on-campus and online offerings, the College educates local and international students, and boasts 160,000 alumni. Situated on 225 acres in Garden City, Long Island, the college grounds reside in historic Nassau County, one of the most desirable locations to live in the United States and an epicenter for business and careers. Since 1959, NCC has earned a nationwide reputation for academic excellence, affordability, and ease of transferability to four-year schools. 

Media Contact:  Lindsey Angioletti | lindsey.angioletti@ncc.edu | C:  (516) 320-0695

ncc.edu/newsreleases
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