GRASS VALLEY, Calif. May 24, 2018 – On Sunday, May 27, the North Star Historic Conservancy will present a staged reading of Sands Hall’s play FAIR USE.
FAIR USE explores the controversy surrounding Wallace Stegner’s use of the lives of Mary and Arthur Foote, who lived in the North Star House and were essential in the selection of Julia Morgan as its architect; and, especially, Stegner’s prolific use of the actual writing of 19th century author/illustrator Mary Hallock Foote in the creation of his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Angle of Repose.
Mary Hallock Foote was a preeminent artist in the mid-nineteenth century prior to moving to Grass Valley. She illustrated books for writers such as Longfellow and Hawthorne, including the Scarlet Letter. In her later career in Grass Valley she wrote and illustrated stories of our local area and mining.
The contributing cast featured are: Kim Culbertson, Lois Ewing, Les Solomon, Thomas Taylor, Sharon Winegar, and T.E. Wolff.
This reading of FAIR USE is a fundraiser for The North Star House. It’s also a tribute to the late, beloved Peggy Levine, who was so essential in seeing the once-dilapidated House for the jewel that it is, and whose vision fueled what it has now become: a community center that features a farmers market, music, theatre, conferences, weddings, classes, and exhibits.
The building has been designated and listed on the National Trust for Historic places.
The North Star Historic Conservancy was established in 2006 to restore and manage the house and grounds. Each year the Conservancy identifies a series of restoration projects which have to be prioritized in light of available donations and volunteer labor.
The North Star House will be open for tours at 2pm, and the staged reading begins at 2:45pm. Visit www.thenorthstarhouse.org for more information about the House and to purchase tickets for this benefit event. Tickets are also available at The Book Seller, SPD Markets, and at the door.