In commemoration of Constitution Day, LancasterHistory will host a virtual, staged reading of "Now's the Time," a historical, political drama that centers on Thaddeus Stevens, Lydia Hamilton Smith, the adoption of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, and the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson during the early years of Reconstruction in Lancaster and in Washington, D.C. The reading will take place on Friday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m.

"Now's the Time" was previously presented and read for an event hosted by the United States Capitol Historical Society in Washington, D.C., in 2020. LancasterHistory is the second organization to host a public reading of the play. The drama was written by Jean Parvin Bordewich, directed by Jennifer Welch, and performed by professional actors from across the United States.

Following the reading, a panel will convene to discuss themes and topics presented in "Now's the Time." Bordewich will be joined on the panel by her spouse, Fergus M. Bordewich, historian and recent author of "Congress at War," and Matthew Pinsker, professor of history and director of the House Divided Project at Dickinson College. A discussion between the playwright and these two scholars will be moderated by LancasterHistory's Tom Ryan. The entire event is estimated to last two hours.

The event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Registration is available online at https://bit.ly/sept17ntt. Registrants will receive a digital copy of the program a few days in advance of the performance. A link to watch the event will also be emailed to registrants several days before the performance. The performance and panel will not be recorded or available online to view after the event.