Thanks for your patience this week -- we had a newsletter glitch, and you may have received two versions of the same mailer recently. (If you missed it, it was an invitation to keep BSR publishing.)
We were glad to see the news on Monday: a federal judge ruled that the dismantled President's House exhibits must go back up while the federal government continues to pursue litigation to take the display away from us permanently (that Inquirer link is accessible to all). It's worth reading the opinion by US District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe (who was appointed by George W. Bush). She cites 1984, pointing out the ways the Trump/Vance administration's actions on this point mirror George Orwell's Ministry of Truth. She also explains why dismantling the exhibits on slavery actually violated the Presidential executive order that started the whole issue. Look for more from BSR in the coming weeks.
This week, our writers are in Newark, DE; Center City, and University City. We review the world premiere of Plantation Black at InterAct (critic Melissa Strong calls Phaedra Michelle Scott a playwright to watch), an important new exhibition about the Shakers and their iconic material culture (critic Gail Obenreder says it's not to be missed), and a world-premiere adaption of Julius Caesar at PTC (critic Kiran Pandey is decidedly mixed). Gail also heads to Newark to review a play that's wildly popular on both sides of the Atlantic, and Walt Maguire visits a new installation at Penn exploring the protests that rocked America's bicentennial celebrations in Philly. Sound familiar?
I am personally finding that February 2026 has me very tired. Even small, everyday actions feel difficult. The constant challenges of shepherding nonprofit media would be enough without chronic crisis on the world stage and the need for consistent actions in support of our democracy and constitutional rights. I don't have an answer, except for taking rest when I can, and holding onto the knowledge that nobody can do everything, but we are all responsible for doing something. We're proud to be in community with readers like you.
Alaina Johns
BSR editor-in-chief
