THE LINCOLN GROUP OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
in conjunction with
THE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Present a Virtual Reading of Excerpts from
Freedom’s Temple:
The Lincoln Memorial
A new play by Bryce Stenzel
Directed by KenYatta Rogers
About the Video:
The Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia (LGDC) and the Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia (CWRTDC) were pleased to co-sponsor this special event on May 23, 2022, as part of the celebration of the Centennial of the Dedication of Lincoln Memorial. The centennial program kicked-off with an event on the historic steps of the Lincoln Memorial on May 22, which featured speakers (such as Dr. Charlotte Morris, president of the historically black Tuskegee University; Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer; and Howard University historian Edna Greene Medford), actors (such as Stephen Lang, of “Avatar” fame, and well-known Washington singer and actress Felicia Curry) and musical performances. The event was co-sponsored by the Lincoln Forum and the National Park Service. To view a video of the event, visit https://www.c-span.org/video/?520493-1/lincoln-memorial-centennial-ceremony
About the Reading:
The premiere reading of excerpts from Freedom’s Temple: The Lincoln Memorial was directed by KenYatta Rogers based on an original script by Bryce O. Stenzel. The play is a dramatic presentation of information about the design, construction, and evolving meaning of the Lincoln Memorial. The script provides behind the scenes insights that are unknown or overlooked. Key characters include the designers and builders, as well as Marian Anderson and the agent who advocated on her behalf. You will also hear the words of Dr. Robert Moton, the sole African American speaker at the May 1922 dedication, whose remarks were censured as “too radical” for the Jim Crow era organizers.
KenYatta Rogers is an award-winning actor who lead a stellar cast of actors with editorial assistance from the LGDC's vice president of special programs Debbie M. Jackson. Following the reading are comments from the Director and Playwright.
This video also includes a performance of Ms. Felicia Curry of the song Trampin', which was one of the songs that Marion Anderson sang in 1922 at the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial. Ms. Curry perfomed the song during the centennial celebration on May 22, 2023, and it is highlighted during the credits of this video. To see the centennial event in its entirety, visit https://www.c-span.org/video/?520493-1/lincoln-memorial-centennial-ceremony
About the Director and Playwright:
KenYatta Rogers received a BA in English from Clark Atlanta University and an MFA in Acting from the University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Rogers is currently a professor in the School of Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies at the University of Maryland. At the time of the reading, Mr. Rogers was on the faculty of Montgomery College where he served as coordinator for the Theatre discipline. He was named 2014 Maryland Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. Rogers has been a guest artist/presenter at Yale University, Syracuse University, George Washington University, Indiana State University, Clemson University, Frederick Community College, Lehigh University, Howard University, Georgetown University, University of Maryland, and Catholic University. Rogers has been an adjudicator for the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival, the Folger Theatre’s High School Shakespeare Festival, and the NAACP’s ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics) program as well as a teaching-artist for the Helen Hayes Awards Theatre Legacy Program. As a member of AEA (Actors’ Equity Association), he has directed or performed in over 50 professional theatre productions and has over 50 film, television, and radio credits.
Bryce O. Stenzel, a native of Mankato, Minnesota, graduated with honors from Mankato State University, earning both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in History. Stenzel has taught in public and private schools, as well as at the collegiate level. In 1989, he developed his first-person portrayal of Abraham Lincoln, presenting to audiences throughout the United States. He is the author of four books and seven plays on local historical and Lincoln-related topics. In particualr, he co-authored a book with Julie Schrader on the history and re-creation of Mankato's Boy in Blue Civil War Memorial. He serves as the Chair of the Boy in Blue Civil War Veterans’ Memorial Committee, the President of the Mankato Area Community Band President, and the Secretary of the New Ulm Battery. Stenzel's books can be ordered directly via email: bryceostenzel@gmail.com
National Park Service: Abraham Lincoln Memorial Monument - Bing images
For more information about the co-sponsoring organizations or to make a donation to help sponsor other important programs, visit:
Home | Lincoln Group of DC (lincolnian.org)
The Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia (cwrtdc.org)
