Defending the Light

A young black man, William Freeman, has been arrested for a murderous rampage against whites, and his case becomes a high-profile political battle between state attorney general John Van Buren (son of Martin) and the abolitionist former governor William Henry Seward (later Lincoln’s secretary of state).

The courtroom drama, based on Earl Conrad’s novel Mr. Seward for the Defense, takes place in 1846.

Presented as part of the 1999-00 Season

Play opened February 6, 2000 at the Tribeca Center

Artist Credits

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Credit Artist Photo
Playwright Ron Milner Ron Milner
Director Jay Broad
Set Designer Robert Joel Schwartz
Lighting Designer David Segal
Costume Designer Michael Alan Stein
Actor Lex Monson
Actor Max Chalawsky
Actor Bridgit Antoinette Evans
Actor James Kiberd
Actor Victoria G. Platt
Actor Bob Sonderskov
Actor Cullen Wheeler
Actor Ned Coulter
Actor Chris Haro
Actor Ramon Melindez Moses
Actor Michael Oberlander
Actor Eddie Robinson
Actor Kathleen Turco-Lyon

All 1999-00 Season productions: