Remy Bumppo Presents July 3 Reading of Declaration of Independence
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, in association with the Grant Park Music Festival, presents a reading of the Declaration of Independence featuring over 100 theater and cultural leaders as readers on Sunday, July 3rd at 5:30 p.m. at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, located at 201 E. Randolph Street. The reading kicks off the Grant Park Music Festival's Independence Celebration which includes 12 musical pieces honoring the meaning of America. The event will be broadcast live on WFMT 98.7 FM.
The Declaration of Independence reading is spearheaded by Remy Bumppo Theatre Company's new artistic director, Timothy Douglas, who explains the decision to read the document aloud. "The document is written in a wonderful language art, which is now almost defunct, called the art of rhetoric." Douglas explains the art of rhetoric was "developed in order to be able to persuade and influence people. As theatre practitioners we inherit this language art. What you see in plays is what happens when the communication of a point of view fails or succeeds. When it succeeds you get love, joy and bliss, and when it fails you get tyranny and slaughter." Douglas continues, "Remy Bumppo invites audiences to experience the power of our nation's birthing document," and hopes that, "in the spirit of the Independence Day holiday, the public reading will stir up the most authentic of patriotic feelings."
Local theater luminaries confirmed to read include Tony Award-winning actress Deanna Dunagan, Lookingglass Theatre Company ensemble members Andrew White (artistic director) and Raymond Fox, Victory Gardens Theater Executive Director Jan Kallish, League of Chicago Theaters Executive Director Deb Clapp, and Remy Bumppo Artistic Director Timothy Douglas. Confirmed cultural leaders to date include Chicago Public Radio contributor and "Dueling Critic" Kelly Kleiman and Grant Park Music Festival Chorus Director Christopher Bell.
Admission to the Grant Park Music Festival concert is free, and seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information visit www.remybumppo.org or www.grantparkmusicfestival.com.