On February 21, 1838, exiled Southerner Angelina Grimke became the first American woman to address a legislative body when she delivered a speech about abolition and the full citizenship of American women at the Massachusetts State House.

A Light Under the Dome brings us to this moment in history, showcasing Grimke and taking us inside the minds and hearts of four abolitionist and suffragist leaders--Maria Weston Chapman, Susan Paul, Julia Williams, and Lydia Maria Child, who in 1838 was living in Northampton. As Grimke readies herself for this moment, her four friends help support and guide her through this pressure-packed moment. A few years later, Grimke would give a similar speech here in Northampton.

Originally commissioned by the National Park Service as part of Plays in Place’s Suffrage in Black and White series, this play was performed to sold-out audiences under the dome of the Massachusetts State House during 2024. 



Each hour-long performance will be followed by a post-show discussion with the playwright and a historian.

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Produced by

Historic Northampton in collaboration with Plays In Place

and in partnership with the Racial Justice Team of the

Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence

Major Sponsors