Événement

Special Performance of "HOUSE ON THE HILL, Mary Ellen Pleasant's Story"

On Aug. 16 at 6 p.m., Sharon L. Graine Productions and Therapeia Massage present a reading of Sharon L. Graine's play "House On The Hill: Mary Ellen Pleasant's Story." Therapeia currently resides in a 10,000 square foot space, which is located on the exact plot of land where Mary Ellen Pleasant's mansion stood. Many stories have been told about that land and its past owner.

An abolitionist active in the Underground Railroad, Mary Ellen Pleasant's fight with the Omnibus Railway Company in San Francisco was victorious, making her the first to win equal rights for African Americans to ride public transportation. Her victory came almost 100 years before Rosa Parks.

Described as "a Rosa Parks, a Martin Luther King and a Malcolm X all rolled into one," she reportedly amassed some $30 million in real estate and investments with her partner Thomas Bell in San Francisco during the Gold Rush era, thus making her the first African American woman millionaire. Madame C.J. Walker was only 5 years old at the time.)

But how did she amass such remarkable wealth and power and what was her relationship with Thomas and Theresa Bell? Her enemies accused her of being a voodoo priestess, a madame and a murderer. But what is the truth? Ms. Graine's script explores all aspects of Mary Ellen's life and allows the audience to decide.

Starring Sharon L. Graine, Kevin Dulude, Geraldine Fuentes, Chester A. Graine III and Sylvia Boyd