s t arena’s page guide udy Contents The Play Meet The Playwright The Tallest Tree Characters at a glance Moisés Kaufman & the Tectonic Theatre Project A Renaissance Man In The Forest Historical Context: McCarthyism Now Playing in the Kreeger Theater Paul Robeson Timeline January 10 - February 16, 2014 Three Big Questions By Daniel Beaty Additional Resources Directed by Moisés Kaufman The Play Discover Paul Robeson as award winning playwright and performer Daniel Beaty share the true story of an athlete, singer, actor, scholar, lawyer, and author who once was held as ‘the best-known black man in the world’. With his booming bari- tone voice, Robeson would ride to wealth and fame before changing times and his controversial political views would ultimately have him and his legacy erased from the pages of history books.

The Tallest Tree in the Forest is a soulful and poetic one man play that features excerpts from some of Robeson’s signature songs like ‘Ol’ Man River’. Daniel Beaty combines talents with acclaimed Broadway director Moise Kaufman in bringing Robeson’s story to life on the stage. “The artist must elect to fight for freedom or slavery. I have made my choice.” Playing roles of more than 20 char- acters, Daniel Beaty ask the ques- –Paul Robeson\ tion; “how does a man remain an artist when his soul cries out to be an activist?”

An activist – someone who takes part in activities that are intended to achieve political or social change.

Major support for this program is provided by the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation. Meet the Characters at a Glance Playwright n many plays, the playwright is not the performer. In The Tallest Tree in the Forest, Daniel Beaty has written and conceived the script, and performs Iover twenty characters in the play. This is called a one-person show. It takes a great skill both as an actor and as a playwright to achieve success in this form. Beaty will become each of these characters and more in the play:

Paul An African American, Athlete, scholar, singer, who rose to fame through stage and film

Pop Paul Robeson’s father, the Rev. William Drew Robeson Daniel Beaty was an escaped slave turn “As an artist, my purpose is Reverend who encouraged his son to inspire people to transform to succeed academically. their pain into power.” –Daniel Beaty Reeve Paul Robeson’s rebellious older brother. ward-winning actor, singer, writer, scholar, and motivational Coach Sanford Rutgers Coach G. Foster Sanford Aspeaker Daniel Beaty is an artist regretfully held Robeson out of the contest who has performed throughout the his sophomore year when Washington and U.S., Europe, and Africa performing Lee refused to play against a black man. on television, acting in theatrical productions, singing leading roles An African American anthropologist, author, actor and in operas, and giving solo concerts Essie civil rights activist. She was the wife and business of his own work. manager of singer and actor Paul Robeson. Born December 28, 1975, Beaty grew up in Dayton, Ohio, in a home Chairman House Un-American Activities Committee that was rife with addiction and created in 1938 investigating suspected incarceration. “I thought chaos citizens and organizations of Communist ties. was the norm…My concept of who I could be in the world was greatly Communist someone who takes part is a socialist movement to influenced by the men in my home.” create a classless, moneyless, and stateless social order society. Beaty recalls when reflecting on his childhood.

Inspired in third grade by King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, Beaty would begin writing and giving inspirational speeches at a young age all over the U.S. at various civic organizations. After receiving a scholarship to a private school, Beaty went on to college at Yale and then graduate school at the Moisés Kaufman & the Tectonic Theatre Project American Conservatory Theatre. oisés Kaufman is a Tectonic Theater Project was In 2010 Beaty starred in playwright, director, founded in 1991 by Moisés Emergence-See! (now re-titled Mand founder of Tectonic Kaufman and Jeffrey LaHoste. Emergency) at Arena Stage. His Theater Project. The Tectonic Tectonic refers to the art play Resurrection was performed Theatre Project uses unique and science of structure and as part of Arena’s 2008/09 season. playwriting techniques to was chosen to emphasize In 2013 Beaty released a children’s devise new plays through the company’s interest in book titled Knock, Knock and the use of in-depth research, construction– how things are an empowerment book titled interviews, and collaboration made, and how they might be Transforming Pain to Power. l to create work. made differently. A Renaissance Man Paul Robeson “Robeson was more than just an artist…. a Timeline he was a master of many different forms.” ▼ –Daniel Beaty 1989 Paul Leroy Robeson is born on April 9 in Princeton NJ ▼ 1919 Graduates from Rutgers as Valedictorian, All-American, Phi Beta Kappa & Cap & Skull member ▼ 1921 Marries Eslanda Cardozo Athlete: All American Goode Rutgers University Athlete/ ▼ NFL Football player. 1922 Ends his NFL career after 2 seasons with the Akron Pros & Milwaukee Badgers ▼ 1923 Graduates from Colombia Scholar: Rutgers Law School University Valedictorian. ▼ 1928 Stars as Joe in the London revival of Show Boat ▼ Becomes first African Singer: “O’l Man River” 1933 – Show Boat (1927). American to star in a major motion picture: Emperor Jones ▼ 1934 Travels to Europe “Here Actor: London debut as Joe in I am not a Negro but a the American musical Show Boat/ First human being…” African American to play the role of Othello. ▼ 1943 Becomes first African American to perform the role of Othello on Author: Wrote Here Broadway I Stand in 1958. ▼ 1947 Retires from acting to focus on activism ▼ Photo of Paul Robeson by Edward Gooch. 1950 Robeson is blacklisted and denied passport travel. Lawyer: 1923 graduate of Columbia University Law School. ▼ 1958 Autobiography published. “Here I Stand.” Activity Research the life of a ▼ historic figure who inspires you. Robeson passes away on 1946 meet 1976 Create a monologue from their Activist: January 23 perspective describing an with President Truman to discuss important part of their life lynchings of African Americans. Helpful Hints for Theater Audiences

As an audience member at the theater, Historical Context: YOU are part of the show! Just as you see and hear the actors onstage, they can see and hear you in the audience. To help the performers do their best, McCarthyism please remember the following: Arrive at least 30 minutes early. “Whether I am or not a Communist is irrelevant. The question is whether Visit the restroom before the show starts. American citizens, regardless of their political beliefs or sympathies, Before the show begins, turn off your may enjoy their constitutional rights.”– Paul Robeson cell phone, watch alarms, pagers and other electronic devices. If anything rings by accident, shut it off hroughout the 1940s and 1950s McCarthyism; the practice of making immediately. America was overwhelmed with unfair allegations or using unfair concerns about the threat of investigative techniques. Save food and drinks for the lobby. T There is no eating or drinking inside communism growing in Eastern Europe and China. Capitalizing on During the McCarthy era, thousands the theater. those concerns, Senator Joseph of Americans were accused of being Walk to and from your seat - no McCarthy from the state of communists or communist running in the theater! Wisconsin made a public sympathizers and became Do not talk, whisper, sing or hum. accusation that more the subject of aggressive Do not use cell phones for calls, text than two hundred “card- investigations and ques- messages, pictures or games. carrying” communists tioning before government had infiltrated the United agencies. Paul Robeson Keep your feet on the floor, not on States government. and many other Hollywood the seat in front of you. These accusations Protesting the Hollywood entertainers would Avoid getting up during a show would be known as Blacklist become blacklisted. because it distracts your neighbors and the performers. If you must leave, wait for a scene change, then exit Activity What issues would you like to see celebrities take a stand on? quietly and quickly. Write a letter asking a celebrity to support social change in your community. Performers appreciate enthusiastic applause rather than whistling or shouting. Cameras and videotape are What is a celebrity’s responsibility prohibited because they are Three 1. to confront social change? distracting to the performers. Enjoy the show!  Paul Robeson retired from his career of theater in order 2 to become an advocate for civil rights. What issues do you .find important? How far would you go to support them? Why do you think not too many people know about Big 3 Paul Robeson today? Do you think he should be Questions . better known? Why or why not? Additional Resources Film Show Boat: University Studios, 1936 1101 Sixth Street, SW The Emperor Jones: United Artists, 1933 Washington, DC 20024 The Tallest Tree in The Forest: Phoenix Learning Group, Inc., 1977 Phone: (202) 554-9066 On the Web Fax: (202) 488-4056 PBS American Masters: Paul Robeson: Written by Sean-Maurice Lynch http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/robeson_p.html Edited by Rebecca Campana Show Boat: Paul Robeson singing O’l Man River on YouTube: http://youtu.be/eh9WayN7R-s The Paul Robeson House Visit www.arenastage.org http://paulrobesonhouse.org for more information on American Theater Magazine: Daniel Beaty: Arena Stage productions http://www.tcg.org/publications/at/issue/featuredstory.cfm?story=1&indexID=37 and educational opportunities.