{"id":265,"date":"2024-07-09T20:07:13","date_gmt":"2024-07-09T20:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebzbproductions.ebzb.org\/?page_id=265"},"modified":"2026-04-11T19:31:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T19:31:46","slug":"native","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ebzb.org\/WPress\/native\/","title":{"rendered":"Native"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Native<\/span>
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Native<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Native<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Richard Wright & Paul Green<\/p>\n\n\n\n

by Ian Finley<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CAST:<\/strong>  J. Mardrice and David zum Brunnen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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DESCRIPTION<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

A courageous conversation about racism, patriotism and friendship, Native<\/em> is a relevant and powerful production based on the true story of the collaboration between Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Green and the controversial author of Native Son, <\/em>Richard Wright. Produced by EbzB Productions, Native<\/em> features David zum Brunnen as Paul Green and J. Mardrice as Richard Wright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Native<\/em> details the metamorphic debate between Paul Green and Richard Wright. The authors are originally brought together by the Mercury Theatre to adapt Wright\u2019s novel, Native Son<\/em>, for the stage. Green, a white southern professor who advocates for social justice, and Wright, a self-educated African-American with communist sympathies, forge a deep respect for each other as they discuss systemic discrimination against African-Americans.  They start their collaboration in Chapel Hill, North Carolina like a \u201chouse on fire.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Then, in 1941, with World War II on the horizon, the two authors meet again in New York for rewrites. Orson Welles\u2019 Broadway production is already in rehearsal. Differences over a single page of the script create an impasse between Green and Wright. A life-changing dialogue about who has the right to tell the story of racial, political and class injustice ensues.  In spite of their common goal to affect social change, the scintillating argument dissolves the friendship of the two influential social justice authors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THEMES<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Activism, American History, Authors, Black History Month, Chicago, Civil Rights, Collaboration, Gun Violence, Native Son<\/em>, North Carolina, Paul Green, Politics, Race, Richard Wright, Social Class, Social Justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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AUDIENCE<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

General Adult; College Lecture Series; Student Matinee for Grades 10+. EbzB encourages presenters to follow this performance with a moderated post-show discussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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News and Reviews<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

BOOKING<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

EbzB Productions<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNative is educational, thought-provoking, and perhaps one of the most pertinent productions out there today on race relations in America.”<\/strong><\/p>Clint Bowman, Presenter, High Point Arts<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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