at the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site in South County
From December 8-10, 2016 Andrea Urice, Senior Lecturer in Drama, directed two public readings of the play Grant and Twain, at the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site in South County. This was her second year working with the national park, after being connected to the playwright, Elizabeth Diggs, an NYU prof, last year. The project used 5 Equity (union) actors and two Washington University students for the other roles. This year Sarah Azizo and Michael Maley were chosen to participate. In addition to having an opportunity to work with St Louis pro actors, the students were able to experience the joys of a paid acting job.
The one-act play Grant and Twain portrays how Grants efforts to write a book about the war were hindered after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. His friend Mark Twain was determined to help Grant publish the book despite obstacles and threats of betrayal close to home.
