DORCHESTER – Saturday, April 24, 2010, 1 pm, “Knock and it Shall Open” will be performed as a part of the bi-annual opening of African Lodge 459. “Knock and it Shall Open” is the second part of the “Among Brothers” trilogy.

“Among Brothers” written by Mwalim (MJ Peters), and directed by Naheem Garcia depicts Prince Hall’s efforts to organize and lead African Lodge, the first African American Freemasonic lodge in the United States, between the years 1775 and 1787, when the African Lodge physically received it’s charter from the Grand Lodge of England, establishing the lodge as African Lodge 459. The production is by The P.A.C.K. (Performing Artists Communicating Knowledge) a dramatic arts project under the collaborative direction of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts Historian Committee and New African Company. This performance is free and open to the public at the William E. Reed Auditorium, 24 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA 02121.

“Knock and It Shall Open” explores the years of 1776 and 1777 when Hall signed and is said to have authored petitions for the abolition of slavery as well as a petition requesting the Continental Army to enlist Free Blacks as more then menial and serving class. The play features actors drawn from the membership of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge including Christopher Andrews, Eugene Bryant, Walter Taylor, John Ferrick, William Burroughs, and Dubois Marshall.

The first part of the trilogy, “Seek and Ye Shall Find” was presented during the 2008 opening of African Lodge 459, marking the first time that any part of African Lodge 459 was open to the public so that the general public could be admitted to see the play.

Mwalim (MJ Peters) is an award-winning playwright, performing artist, filmmaker and educator. He is currently the Worshipful Master of Union Lodge #4 in New Bedford, MA and the recently installed Grand Historian for the Grand Lodge as well as a tenured Associate Professor of English and African/African American Studies at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Naheem Garcia is a noted actor, director and arts educator, and is currently and Education and Community Associate for the Huntington Theatre Company.

Both are long standing members of the New African Company, New England’s oldest continuous professional Black theater company.

For more information, contact the Prince Hall Grand Lodge at 617-445-1145


MWALIM (MJ Peters)
Associate Professor of English & African/ African American Studies
Univ of Mass Dartmouth
285 Old Westport Rd.
N. Dartmouth, MA 02747
mpeters@umassd. edu
PH: 508-999-8304
FX: 508-999-9235