ONLINE! The Birth of a Nation and the Birth of White Supremacy
Code: MT41001
Dates: October 15 - November 12, 2020
Meets: 2:15 PM to 3:45 PM
Sessions: 5
Course Fee: $79.00
Sorry, we are no longer accepting registrations for this course. Please contact our office to find out if it will be rescheduled, or if alternative classes are available.
D.W. Griffith’s 1915 film masterpiece is suddenly relevant again. Does our country need to reevaluate its thinking on race, the Civil War, white supremacy and in general how we view America? This landmark film is both the cornerstone of modern cinema and one of the most virulently racist documents in our country’s history. See the entire film, in the just released new restoration, complete with a new recording of the memorable musical score. Discuss the surprising new relevance as history is currently repeating itself. See the birth of our current issues at the birth of the modern era.
Neal Newman
Over the past 40 years, Neal Newman has directed extensively in classical, Shakespeare, modern theater, musicals, and opera. He trained as an actor at California State University, and trained in Shakespeare at ACT of San Francisco, where he directed A CRY OF PLAYERS, and THE CRITIC, and acted the title role in RICHARD II. He trained as a director at Carnegie Mellon, and the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. He directed many Off-Broadway productions in New York (DANCE ON A COUNTRY GRAVE, CRADLE WILL ROCK, ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD); ran a summer stock company, (ROBBER BRIDEGROOM, TAMING OF THE SHREW); and directed five seasons of Shakespeare in the Park in Philadelphia, (MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, HAMLET, HENRY IV). Opera productions include many by Gilbert & Sullivan, BOHEME, and CARMEN. He was a New York Critic for Show Business Magazine for 7 years, and continues as a record producer. He has taught and directed at The Walnut Street Theater, Fordham University (CABARET, FIGARO); University of the Arts (SEAGULL, CRUCIBLE); Cabrini College (MISS JULIE, 2 GENTLEMEN OF VERONA); and the University Of Pennsylvania, (MIKADO). At Steel River Playhouse he directed RAGTIME, MIRACLE WORKER, CHRISTMAS CAROL, BLITHE SPIRIT and TOYS IN THE ATTIC. As an actor, Neal has appeared at Steel River in THE CRUCIBLE, (Danforth) and PIPPIN, (Charlemange). He was co author of GOLDILOCKS AND THE DOWN HOME BEARS presented at Steel River, and will soon present a reading of the new musical LITTLE PRINCESS. Neal recently presented BIRTH OF A NATION, AND THE FOUNDING OF WHITE SUPREMACY at MLSN.nealnewman@gmail.com
