First Look: Book of Gwen

HARTBEAT ENSEMBLE'S 

PRESENTS

First Look: Book of Gwen

Book of Gwen, a sharing of a new work written by Hartford’s HartBeat Ensemble and Connecticut-based playwright Lonnie Carter, is about the trailblazing and unsung Gwendolyn Reed, a Hartford actress, educator and migrant worker who championed childhood and adult literacy. HartBeat takes us from her days working for the Connecticut Federal Theatre Project to her appearances as Aunt Jemima throughout New England.  

Co-directed by Godfrey L. Simmons Jr. and Vernice Miller

Written by Lonnie Carter in collaboration with three contemporary black actresses

Acted by Vanessa R. Butler, Vernice Miller and Tonille Watkis

First Look: Book of Gwen is a radio drama that will be made available on-demand to ticket holders for free until January 2, 2022.

Running Time: 10 minutes.

HartBeat would like to give special thanks to I-Park, an international artist-in-residence program in East Haddam, for providing time and space to HartBeat to workshop this new piece.

Book of Gwen is supported in part by the Network of Ensemble Theaters and the Playwrights’ Center, National Endowment for the Arts and New England Foundation New Works Program.  Creative development residency supported by I-Park, East Haddam, CT.