Dust of Egypt: The Story of Sojourner Truth, a new play dramatizing a pivotal and lesser-known chapter in the life of the famed abolitionist, will run March 5–29, 2026, at the Frank Shiner Theater at the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture (18 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012).
Presented by The Real Artists LLC, the production is written by Karin Abarbanel and directed by Rhonda PASSION Hansome. The limited engagement includes 16 performances at the theater, located at 18 Bleecker St., with performances Thursdays through Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m., along with select daytime and additional evening shows.
Set years before Sojourner Truth’s famed “Ain’t I a Woman” speech, Dust of Egypt centers on Truth as a young mother fighting to rescue her 5-year-old son, Peter, after he is illegally sold and taken south. The play recounts how Truth, at a time when enslaved people and women were denied legal power, became the first Black woman to successfully sue a white slave owner in court. The story explores themes of injustice, faith, resilience, forgiveness, and the cost of confronting an oppressive system.
Desi Waters stars as Sojourner Truth in a cast of seven that includes Jade Cayne, Eliott Johnson, Eric Ruffin, Jeanna Schweppe, Mark McCullough Thomas, and Nicholas Louis Turturro. Understudies include O’Wayne Dalhouse, Garrett Lee Hendricks, Nadel Henville, Megan Lomax, Jeff Prewitt, Hunter Rothstein, and Emily Sullivan.
Director Rhonda PASSION Hansome said the story resonates strongly with contemporary audiences, noting that the struggles depicted in the play mirror ongoing global issues surrounding motherhood, injustice, and the protection of children. Select performances will include post-show talkbacks addressing themes such as family, parenting, education, faith, and spirituality.
The production has a runtime of 90 minutes with no intermission. General admission tickets range from $25 to $60 and are available through the Sheen Center box office and online.
Additional creative team members include assistant producer Delfina Barbiero, set and props designer Emiliano Pares, costume designer Mary Blackburn, projections designer Scott Fetterman, and general manager Ethan Fox.
Click here to purchase tickets.
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