This Theater and Policy Salon tells a story of parallel turning points in America’s troubled journey to a more perfect democracy – the 1804 Hamilton-Burr duel and the January 6 riot – then digs into the issues facing our democracy today. This free event (no rsvp required) kicks off with an exclusive sneak peak at a new play Across the River which introduces Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton as “brothers (and orphans) from another mother.? Tragically, ego and honor drove these Revolutionary War frenemies to mutual destruction. The duel wiped out both Yankee powerhouse pols and left pro-slavery southern Presidents to fill the power vacuum – and the White House- right up until the Civil War. Afterwards, join a public conversation with DC democracy activists and experts on African-American history, America’s flawed democracy, and January 6 Capitol event.

This program has been funded in part by a grant from HumanitiesDC.