Drapetomania

Description

The Marsh Berkeley will present the World Premiere engagement of acclaimed playwright and performer Wayne Harris’s “Drapetomania,” an exploration of political dissent and the tools of oppression that can be employed to silence protesters. Invited by the U.S. State Department to Palestine to perform a piece about Martin Luther King Jr., Harris found striking similarities between the U.S. and the Middle East, uncovering cultural reckonings and historical parallels while sharing a story of peace. The play takes its title from the word coined in 1851 by American physician Samuel A. Cartwright to define a perceived “mental illness” that caused enslaved peoples to flee their captivity. Reclaiming the term, Harris offers audiences a call to action, urging civic engagement and activism. Directed by David Ford, “Drapetomania” was presented in a well-received workshop run at The Marsh in August 2025 and returns for this World Premiere.

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