The College of Mount St. Vincent invites scholars from all fields to join us for a conference on New York in the era of Edwin Forrest, the first great American actor. Situated on the former grounds of Forrest's Riverdale estate, and in the shadow of Forrest's castle, Fonthill, the conference will explore many different aspects of cultural, political, and social life in 19th century New York.

Panels include:
Politics and Performance: City, Nation, and Theater
Civil War(s): Art and Politics During the Civil War Era
Forrest's Audience: Working-Class New York
Producing Theater in 19th Century America
Forrest's Estate: Fonthill and Riverdale in the 19th Century

Speakers include Michael Anderson (Rutgers-New Brunswick), Nicholas Anastasakos (Brown University), Cindy Brizzell-Bates (Siena College), David Blake (The College of New Jersey), Arthur Bloom (Kutztown University), David Carlyon (independent scholar), Caleb Crain (independent scholar), Marie-Stephanie Delamaire (Columbia University), John W. Frick (University of Virginia), Helen Huff (City University of New York), Barbara Lewis (University of Massachusetts-Boston), Mark Noonan (NYC College of Technology), Jack Shuler (Brooklyn College), Susan Tenneriello (Brooklyn College), Shauna Vey (NYC College of Technology), Lloyd Ultan (Bronx Borough Historian).

The College of Mount St. Vincent is easily accessible by car and by mass transit; for directions, see http://www.mountsaintvincent.edu/334.htm. For further details, contact Professor Daniel Opler at daniel.opler@mountsaintvincent.edu.

Refreshments will be served.