On February 4, 1864, Frederick Douglass visited Newtown and spoke at Newtown Hall, now known as Newtown Theatre. On February 4, 2025 – exactly 161 years later – the theatre will welcome nationally acclaimed Frederick Douglass impersonator Darius Wallace to the theatre to deliver “Frederick Douglass! The Lion of Freedom,” a one-man show about the life of America’s greatest abolitionist.
TICKET POLICIES
Any tickets not sold before the show will be available at the door for $42.
You can present a hard copy of your tickets or the QR code on your phone.
Members may not purchase tickets for non-members. Anyone with a member ticket will be asked to present a valid membership card at the door.
All ticket sales are final. Please be aware of what event you are buying tickets for. Refunds or ticket exchanges will not be offered. If you can't attend, you're welcome to give your tickets to someone else.
Can’t find your tickets? First check your junk or spam folder for an email from “Ticketbud Orders.” If you don't see your tickets, try to retrieve them here. After trying both of these things, please contact us if you still don’t have your tickets. Do not contact Ticketbud – we’ll be able to help you much faster.
CONCERT DETAILS
Doors open at 6:30 PM and the show starts at 7:30 PM.
Seating is first come, first served. We recommend arriving early if you would like to secure your favorite seats.
Beer, wine and canned cocktails will be available for purchase at the theatre before and during the show.
Free parking is available along North State Street, in the municipal lot between Washington and Centre Avenue, and in the municipal lot next to Newtown Borough Hall (23 North State Street).
We have a wheelchair lift on our front porch and an accessible restroom on the first floor. There are no steps to climb to access the first floor of the auditorium. There are steps to the balcony.
Frederick Douglass and the Newtown Theatre
Douglass traveled widely through the northern states during the Civil War, encouraging support for the war effort and for President Lincoln, and preparing his audiences for the task of reuniting the nation after the war was over. He came to Bucks County at the invitation of Mahlon B. Linton of Newtown, one of the county’s leading abolitionists, who had often hosted anti-slavery activists when they visited the area. While in Newtown in 1864, Douglass spoke to a large crowd at length about the reconstruction of the Union. An admission fee of 15 cents was charged, and the receipts amounted to upwards of $46. Proceeds went to the Freedmen’s Association, a group organized to provide relief for newly freed slaves.
About the Show
The show begins with Wallace talking about himself and his own journey out of the streets and his childhood struggle with reading. Inspired by his father to read the life stories of great men like Frederick Douglass, his life was transformed. As the show progresses, Wallace transforms into Douglass.
The show is a journey through Douglass’ life growing up as a slave on the plantation, until the moment he becomes free. His freedom began with learning how to read, and he was fascinated with the power of the written and spoken word. Witness Wallace transform into several different characters of influence on Douglass’ life through song, speeches, monologue and poetry. The show ends where it began, with Wallace transforming back into himself.