A note from Founder and Artistic Director- David Henry Wrigley
Atop our central square’s governing structure stands the statue of Philadelphia’s founder William Penn. The time to re-tell his story is today! Pennsylvania was founded as a refuge for the persecuted. Because of William Penn, Pennsylvania served as a model of tolerance, religious liberty, and self governance. With peaceful intentions and practices, Pennsylvania thrived in the years following its founding - without barracks, walls, or armies. There are many lessons to take away from the trials and tribulations of William Penn. His faith, dedication, convicted spirit, and moral fortitude are especially admirable at this time in our nation's history, where our most powerful leaders deal in deception, doublespeak, and duplicity.
The last major production about William Penn was a 5 act opera presented in 1981. When we ask people about the man on top of City Hall they may know he is Billy Penn, (if they don’t mistakenly assign him the name Ben Franklin) but often they do not know the story of our Founding Fathers' Founding Father. They do not know that his Charter of Liberties, which gave the Philadelphians of his day the rights and abilities to govern themselves, was the stimulus for the casting and creation of the Liberty Bell. They do not know that he spent months at a time, in some cases with an indefinitely long sentence upon his head, in the Tower of London and Newgate Prison because he stood up for religious liberty. They do not know that his father, Sir Admiral William Penn, was head of the Royal Navy. Admiral Penn propelled England into dominance of the sea through his innovative naval tactics, was responsible for exposing a young William Penn to the tenants of Quakerism, and is in fact the namesake for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania!
In this fusion of jazz, rock, hip-hop, and musical theater, we have the opportunity to learn these lessons and more. The William Penn Story is an inspirational tale of hope in the face of adversity, perseverance in the midst of hardship, and victory through the trials of defeat. I hope you'll be one of the fortunate few who get to witness this new musical in its initial offerings as we continue to develop this important piece of theatre. Join us! It's going to be awesome!
The last major production about William Penn was a 5 act opera presented in 1981. When we ask people about the man on top of City Hall they may know he is Billy Penn, (if they don’t mistakenly assign him the name Ben Franklin) but often they do not know the story of our Founding Fathers' Founding Father. They do not know that his Charter of Liberties, which gave the Philadelphians of his day the rights and abilities to govern themselves, was the stimulus for the casting and creation of the Liberty Bell. They do not know that he spent months at a time, in some cases with an indefinitely long sentence upon his head, in the Tower of London and Newgate Prison because he stood up for religious liberty. They do not know that his father, Sir Admiral William Penn, was head of the Royal Navy. Admiral Penn propelled England into dominance of the sea through his innovative naval tactics, was responsible for exposing a young William Penn to the tenants of Quakerism, and is in fact the namesake for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania!
In this fusion of jazz, rock, hip-hop, and musical theater, we have the opportunity to learn these lessons and more. The William Penn Story is an inspirational tale of hope in the face of adversity, perseverance in the midst of hardship, and victory through the trials of defeat. I hope you'll be one of the fortunate few who get to witness this new musical in its initial offerings as we continue to develop this important piece of theatre. Join us! It's going to be awesome!
