I will also address Rukeyser’s themes of freedom and imprisonment, truth and illusion, and the body in Houdini and in her poems that first captivated me as a young lesbian poet. In my presentation I will speak about my discovery of Houdini: A Musical, the decision to publish the verse drama through Paris Press, the journey of transforming the manuscript housed at the Library of Congress into a published book, and bringing the text to the attention of readers. Jan Freeman “Let me see, let me feel, let me know what is real”: Publishing Houdini, A Musical This event will also be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person: Sponberg Theatre, 124 Judy Sturgis Hill Building, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197 ( Parkingand Covid Protocol). Theater Information All performances free and open to the public.

We thank Kitty Graham for performance permission.Īll performance are free and open to the publicĮdited and introduced by Jan Freeman, Houdini was orginally published by Paris Press and is currently available at Wesleyan University Press. These events will be followed by conversations between the director, actors, and audience.ĭirected by EMU Theatre Professor Lee Stille, Rukeyser’s Houdini will be performed by the talented actors of EMU’s Theatre Program. In collaboration with YpsiWrites, a writing-focused non-profit serving the Ypsilanti area, this event will be accompanied by a Poetry Wall and other activities geared toward a younger Southeast Michigan audience. 11am (EST) Webinar about Rukeyser and Houdini with Jan Freeman, Stefania Heim, and Houdini expert Matthew Solomon. (This event will also be live streamed for audiences unable to attend in person).

Sponberg Theatre, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI. The Muriel Rukeyser Living Archive is organizing four staged readings of Rukeyser’s musical Houdini, with the support of the Michigan Humanities (an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities), EMU’s Center for Jewish Studies, the English Department, and YpsiWrites:

Eric weisz