In a Manhattan rehearsal room, Broadway actors are preparing for a groundbreaking performance that brings two pivotal moments in U.S. Supreme Court history to life. "The Ford/Hill Project," set to debut at Woolly Mammoth Theatre in Washington on October 7, 2024, dramatizes the testimonies of Anita Hill and Christine Blasey Ford during Supreme Court nomination hearings.
The project, conceived by actress Elizabeth Marvel, aims to present verbatim portions of the testimonies given by Hill in 1991 and Ford in 2018, along with responses from Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh. This unique approach allows audiences to experience these historical events side by side, highlighting the parallels and differences between them.
"I started asking myself: 'What does it mean to be me, to be an American? What is important to me as a citizen?' The first thing that presented itself in my mind was this image of Anita Hill, standing there testifying to this. It was almost, like, Greek."
The Supreme Court, established in 1789, has seen its fair share of controversial nomination hearings. The Hill-Thomas hearings in 1991 and the Ford-Kavanaugh hearings in 2018 stand out as particularly significant moments that sparked national conversations about sexual harassment and assault.
Director Lee Sunday Evans has meticulously crafted the 70-minute production, drawing from hearing transcripts to create a powerful narrative. The actors wear earpieces during the performance, speaking in tandem with the actual voices of those they portray, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the production.
One innovative aspect of the play is the role-switching technique employed by the actors. Eric Berryman, who primarily portrays Thomas, explains the impact of this approach: "Now I'm going to make this cis male body say the words of this transgressed cis female body. It's an act of, like, 'Hey, if you really want to learn what someone's experience is, you know, take a walk in someone's shoes.'"
The significance of Hill and Ford's testimonies extends far beyond the courtroom. Debra Katz, Ford's lawyer, notes the profound impact of her client's testimony: "She gave voice to the pain and the experience of millions of women. And this play will do the same."
Legal scholar Laurence Tribe offers insight into the theatrical nature of Supreme Court nomination hearings: "The hearings have this kind of Kabuki theater quality. They don't really tell us much about the legal predisposition of the justices, but they tell us a great deal about the character and emotional tenor of the people who hold so much power over our lives."
As "The Ford/Hill Project" prepares for its debut, it promises to offer a fresh perspective on these historical events, encouraging audiences to reflect on the intersection of law, politics, and personal experiences in shaping the highest court in the United States.