Loved Well (Not Wisely): Paul Robeson and Uta Hagen’s Othello

A collage of archival audio, photographs, semi-staged readings, and expert commentary transport you 75 years into theatre history. In October 1943, the Theatre Guild opened a revolutionary and courageous Othello, the first major American Shakespeare production starring an African American actor, Paul Robeson, opposite a white leading lady, Uta Hagen. As the play churned to its dramatic end, the tragic lovers shared the fateful kiss–Broadway’s first interracial kiss. Hagen’s career was forever changed, as her association with Robeson condemned her to the Hollywood blacklist. The production set the record for the longest run of any Shakespeare play on Broadway, a record which remains unbroken. Join us for an exploration of this historic and influential production, as we celebrate the centennial of Uta Hagen.

(If you need assistance with online reservations, please visit the welcome desk at the Library for the Performing Arts’ Lincoln Center Plaza entrance, where volunteers will make a reservation for you, even if you do not use email. For free events, The Library generally overbooks to ensure a full house. All registered seats are released 15 minutes before start time, so we recommend that you arrive early.)

ASL interpretation and real-time (CART) captioning available upon request. Please submit your request at least two weeks in advance by emailing [email protected]











When: Mon., May. 13, 2019 at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Where: New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
40 Lincoln Center Plaza
212-870-1600
Price: By donation
Buy tickets/get more info now
See other events in these categories:

A collage of archival audio, photographs, semi-staged readings, and expert commentary transport you 75 years into theatre history. In October 1943, the Theatre Guild opened a revolutionary and courageous Othello, the first major American Shakespeare production starring an African American actor, Paul Robeson, opposite a white leading lady, Uta Hagen. As the play churned to its dramatic end, the tragic lovers shared the fateful kiss–Broadway’s first interracial kiss. Hagen’s career was forever changed, as her association with Robeson condemned her to the Hollywood blacklist. The production set the record for the longest run of any Shakespeare play on Broadway, a record which remains unbroken. Join us for an exploration of this historic and influential production, as we celebrate the centennial of Uta Hagen.

(If you need assistance with online reservations, please visit the welcome desk at the Library for the Performing Arts’ Lincoln Center Plaza entrance, where volunteers will make a reservation for you, even if you do not use email. For free events, The Library generally overbooks to ensure a full house. All registered seats are released 15 minutes before start time, so we recommend that you arrive early.)

ASL interpretation and real-time (CART) captioning available upon request. Please submit your request at least two weeks in advance by emailing [email protected]

Buy tickets/get more info now