MAY 16—25 Bleeding Kansas

  • Weekend 1: Fri, May 16 at 7:00 pm, Sat, May 17 at 7:00 pm, Sun, May 18 at 3:00 pm
  • Weekend 2: Fri, May 23 at 7:00 pm, Sat, May 24 at 7:00 pm, Sun, May 25 at 3:00 pm

Bleeding Kansas – Presented by the Town Run Theater Company at the Shepherdstown Opera House

A play by Kathryn Walat

Artistic Director: Joe Yates

Cast: Joe Yates, Homer Speaker, Emily Wanger, Sarah Ward and Richard Yates

This powerful drama is set in the Kansas territory in 1855-56, where George and Kitty Clarke have set out to start a new life as farmers. In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed settlers in the new territory of Kansas to vote to determine if the new state would be slave or free. As voter fraud turned into political violence, the threat of bloodshed became all too real to even those who wanted no part of the issue.

Artistic Director Joe Yates recently produced and acted in The Anvil – The Trial of John Brown at the Charles Town Court House and The Rivalry in Shepherdstown, both of which earned rave reviews and capacity audiences.

Yates selected Bleeding Kansas to be the third in this series of historical dramas. Its message is relevant even today, as our divided nation grapples with how to find common ground. “I look to the lessons of history that can show us the danger of overlooking what unites us, focusing on what divides us,” said Yates. “Bleeding Kansas asks the question, what will you do when conflict is at your door? As Americans in 2025, it’s a question we all need to take a hard look at.”

General Admission. Adult $25, Student/Senior $20. The Friday May 16 performance is “pay what you will” for all tickets.

Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy theater that seats a maximum of 100 patrons— advance ticket purchase encouraged. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks for sale during the performance (ID required for beer & wine purchase, no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.