Arts and Entertainment

Penn State Harrisburg MLK campus play series to present 'Provenance'

Original play marks series' 23rd year with Martin Luther King Jr. Day performance on Jan. 18

Penn State Harrisburg's MLK Day campus play series will present "Provenance," an original play that will mark the 23rd year of the series honoring the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Credit: Penn State Harrisburg / Penn StateCreative Commons

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Penn State Harrisburg will debut a performance of “Provenance” at noon on Jan. 18 in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The performance, which was staged and filmed at the Mukund S. Kulkarni at Penn State Harrisburg, will be available for viewing on the college’s YouTube channel for the entire week.

This year marks the 23rd year for the campus play series, which each year presents an original production centering on African-American history in celebration of the MLK Day holiday. Penn State Harrisburg’s School of Humanities, American studies program, and PenOwl Productions Theatre Company are sponsoring the original dramatic production.

“Provenance” is set in an upscale home in Central Pennsylvania. An estate sale is in process. Many beautiful and cherished belongings are being transferred to new keepers. Will their stories travel with them? Will their full histories be revealed? The play follows the journey of one object as it passes through the lives of four individuals and, through its provenance, transforms their lives and brings to light a bit of America’s story.

The play will be shown free of charge. No registration is required.

The play was written by Dorothy King, retired assistant professor of sociology. The filmmaker is Penn State Harrisburg student Jesse Goranson. David Payne leads the cast.

The production is funded by the Penn State Harrisburg Diversity and Educational Equity and the School of Humanities.

For more information about the play, call 717-948-6201 or email hbm5103@psu.edu.

Last Updated April 15, 2021