This country was founded on the principle “all men are created equal” and yet many of the founding idealists owned slaves. Ona is an historical play about Martha Washington’s maid, who was one of the few slaves to successfully escape from the Washingtons. Ona is prompted to run for freedom on learning she is to be given to Martha’s difficult granddaughter as a wedding present.
Ona was presented on February 13, 2022 at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro. Read a review of the show here.
About the Playwright
Keith Burridge is a retired scientist and UNC Professor who has written plays for more than a decade. His play The Art of Deception, based on a true story of art forgery, won the 2014 prize for best new play by Playwrights First in New York City. His one woman play The First Woman President, based on the life of Edith Wilson, the wife of President Woodrow Wilson, was performed in the 2016 Midtown International Theatre Festival in NYC.
Cast
Ona: Sierra Smith
Hercules: Evit Emerson
Martha: Mary Rowland
Dolley: Kelly McDaniel
Betsy: Emily Chiola
Joseph: Travis Walsh
Jack Staines: Evit Emerson
Reverand Allen: Gerald Rubin
Stage Directions: Travis Walsh
Artistic Team
Playwright: Keith Burridge
Director: Karen Dacons-Brock
Producer: Annie Taft
Associate Producer: Debra Kaufman
Associate Producer: Maria Piskor