On Wednesday, March 19,

AAPEX has the honor of presenting a reading of

Hershell Norwood's play

BILLIES BLUES TONIGHT AT MAMA'S JAM

at the famed

Player's Club

in New York City.

For those of you who are not familiar with this historical organization , see below.
For more information on this event, contact Jaz Dorsey, Dramaturg, AAPEX at jazmn47@aol.com

The Players, which is its proper name, is a social club founded in New York City by the famed 19th century Shakespearean actor Edwin Booth who purchased a magnificent 1847 mansion located at 16 Gramercy Park. During his lifetime, he reserved an upper floor for his home, turning the rest of the building over to the Clubhouse. Its interior and part of its exterior was designed by famed architect Stanford White. Known also as The Players Club, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1962. In 1989, women were invited to become fully participating members. The Players still maintains its entryway gaslights, among the few remaining examples in New York City.

Reasons for founding
On April 14, 1865, Edwin's younger brother John Wilkes, a popular actor, assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, after which the life of his family, and all actors, changed. Understandably, they found themselves despised by the society of the time. Perhaps inspired by London's Garrick Club, Booth established a social club which would bring actors into contact with men of different professions such as industrialists, writers and other creative artists. The building was completely redesigned, furnished, equipped and decorated with Booth's personal possessions. When ready, a series of meetings was held, and a small group of founding fathers turned the place over to newly invited members in a grand ceremony on December 31, 1888. Thus The Players was born. The word "club" does not appear in the club's official name. In the title papers, it is stated that Edwin Booth should retain a furnished apartment for his own use where he could be left undisturbed as he wished. It was in that revered room on the third floor, remaining undisturbed still, that he died at 1 a.m. on a stormy night, June 7, 1893, aged 59.