Student Zach Grassee and faculty member Sally Dolembo collaborated on costume design for "Debate: Baldwin vs. Buckley." (Photo provided by Kristin Morris)
On Feb. 18, 1965, a crowded hall in Cambridge, England, hosted James Baldwin and William F. Buckley Jr. to debate the future of the American dream and the civil rights movement.
In partnership with Timeline Theatre and arts nonprofit the american vicarious, The Theatre School is bringing this history to campus in “Debate: Baldwin vs. Buckley.” This site-specific production runs now through March 2 in Cortelyou Commons on DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus. Tickets are on sale now, and special offers for DePaul community members are available.
Adapted and directed by Christopher McElreon, the play is based on the televised debate between Baldwin, the leading literary voice of the civil rights movement, and Buckley, a fierce critic of the movement and America’s most influential conservative intellectual. This historic clash reveals the deep roots and legacy of racial conflict that continues to haunt America.
Dialogue in action
The debate took place 60 years ago at Cambridge University, and the conversation opened with student speakers sharing their views on the topic. Theatre School students will participate in these roles at DePaul, stepping into the world of facilitating dialogue.
“This show is a conversation, and any civil conversation that can be had around issues like this needs to be seen,” says Jack Baust, a fourth year acting student. “This show can inspire empathy, particularly in listening to Baldwin's words, and I think that is what we need above all else in the country right now.”
Audience members will experience an immersive view of this historic conversation, in which Baldwin calls for a revolution in race relations and Buckley staunchly stands for the continuation of societal systems at the time.
“We hope the audience can reflect on what progress has happened and simultaneously acknowledge what progress has not been made in the past 60 years,” says PJ Powers (BFA ‘95), co-founder and artistic director of Timeline Theatre. “While the differences between Baldwin and Buckley are stark, this was still a civil literary debate without resorting to tactics like name-calling, which have become increasingly common today.”
The performance draws from a moment of civil discourse facilitated by a university, a tradition continued at DePaul today by groups including DePaul Dialogue Collaborative.
A collaboration through time
Professional artists in Chicago teamed up with DePaul students for “Baldwin vs. Buckley,” a continuation of Timeline Theatre’s connection to The Theatre School that traces back to its founding in 1997 by DePaul alumni.
“One of the real treats of working on this show is that it celebrates the past, present and future of both Timeline and The Theatre School,” Powers says. “It’s so exciting to as an alum to work with current students who will be the future to connect past and present.”
Students and professionals on and off-stage are collaborating on this production. For many students working on “Baldwin vs. Buckley,” this is a first foray into the professional world of theatre, with a faster pace and new challenges.
“Compared to a typical production at DePaul, ‘Baldwin vs. Buckley’ is preparing me to take curveballs more easily, and not to be tightly held to the rules and order that I've gotten used to at DePaul,” says Zach Grasee, a third-year costume design student working on the production. “I’ve been able to find my own method of working.”
Like the behind-the-scenes team, performers also have a quicker rehearsal timeline.
“This is very different from the four to six weeks of rehearsal we get in school productions,” Baust says. “We need to come in prepared with choices made, and characters’ motivations considered. It's faster and more intense, but it's a lot of fun in that capacity.”
More about the production and ticketing information are on the Timeline Theatre website. See below for DePaul community special ticket offers.
DePaul Student Rush
$6.50 ($5 ticket plus $1.50 fee if paying by credit card); available in person starting 1 hour prior to performance; 1 ticket per DePaul ID; subject to availability
DePaul Staff & Faculty Rush
$18.00 ($15 ticket plus $3 fee if paying by credit card); available in person starting 1 hour prior to the performance; 1 ticket per DePaul ID; subject to availability
DePaul Community (Staff & Faculty & Alumni advance tickets)
$45 ($40 ticket plus $5 fee if paying by credit card); purchase online or over the phone, 2 ticket per DePaul ID (or alumni) using promo code DEPAUL45.
Some restrictions apply.