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Eastern theatre presents 'The Prison that Made America: Women's House of Detention'

Willimantic, CT (04/17/2025) — Eastern Connecticut State University's upcoming mainstage theatre production, "The Prison that Made America: Women's House of Detention (1932-1974)," will show April 24-27 in the Proscenium Theatre of the Fine Arts Instructional Center (FAIC). Written and directed by Profesors Reginald Flood and Alycia Bright-Holland, the new play takes viewers behind the walls of the historic Women's House of Detention in Greenwich Village, New York - a neighborhood where Bohemian rebellion and queer culture flourished.

This gripping play traces the roots of America's carceral institutions, exploring the journey from women's court to confinement. It challenges audience members to confront the forgotten histories that shaped present times while asking questions such as, whose bodies do we stand on today? Where did queer vision begin? And what does it mean to have power over your own life, identity, and relationships?

According to the production team, this drama examines the politics of difference in America through the historical lens of the Women's House of Detention, "in a nation whose tendency to incarcerate difference, rather than celebrate it, has shaped our contemporary society."

Through compelling storytelling, "The Prison that Made America: Women's House of Detention (1932-1974)" highlights how social movements, especially within the LGBTQ+ community, have reshaped our world, providing guidance and inspiration for the ongoing fight for justice and liberation, here and abroad.

"The Prison that Made America" is presented by the Department of Communications, Film, and Theater and the Drama Society, with collaboration from students enrolled in THE 474: Experimental Theatre, and designers Kristen Morgan (scenic and projection), Anya Sokolovskaya (costumes), Travis Houldcroft (sound), and graduating senior Zachery Beaumont (lighting).

Reception:

  • The public is invited to a pre-show reception on April 24 at 4:30 p.m. in the FAIC Art Gallery, highlighting the accompanying art show, "House of D: Voices out the Window, Stories on the Ground."

Showings (Proscenium Theater):

  • April 24 at 5:30 p.m.
  • April 25 at 11:00 p.m.
  • April 25 & 26 at 7:30 p.m.
  • April 27 at 4:00 p.m.

Tickets:

  • Free for Eastern students
  • $5 for other students and groups of 10 or more
  • $10 for senior citizens
  • $12 for Eastern faculty, staff, alumni
  • $20 for the general public
  • Purchas tickets at: https://easternct.showare.com/whod/

More information:

  • FAIC Box Office: (860) 465-5123
  • theatreboxoffice@easternct.edu

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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving upwards of 4,000 students annually on its Willimantic campus. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 25 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2024-25 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 15 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.

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