The Ground on Which We Stand is being presented at Luna Stage in West Orange, and a more arresting historical tale I do not recall having seen. The Ground on Which We Stand was originally presented by Luna Stage in 2023. It was a site-specific work, performed along the course of a mile-long walk from Montclair’s Crane House Museum to the Howe House. The piece engaged eighteen actors, twelve playwrights, and over twenty crew and support team members. The well-received work has been abridged by one of the original playwrights, Tylie Shider, along with actress Naja Selby-Morton and Artistic Director Ari Laura Kreith, into a one-woman show.
Naja Selby-Morton, seen recently at Luna Stage in the ripple, the wave that carried me home, turns in a bravura performance in multiple roles of both sexes across two centuries of one family’s history. Her formidable acting talent, so well on display in the ripple, the wave, is allowed to blossom fully as she creates a series of individual portraits in this tale of one of the first black-owned properties in post-Civil War New Jersey.
Ari Laura Kreith, who not only directed this piece but also conceived of it in its abridged version, has provided Selby-Morton with excellent guidance in bringing all of her characters to abundant life. Costume designer Deborah Caney aids Selby-Morton by providing her with basic outfits that, with changes in accessories, allow her to morph into the various personalities she portrays.
The Ground on Which We Stand is a bold piece of history, telling an almost-forgotten story of a family from the post-Civil War era up to today. Naja Selby-Morton, directed by Ari Laura Kreith, gives a stunning performance that would be a crime to miss. I strongly recommend you head to Luna Stage in West Orange to explore The Ground on Which We Stand!
The Ground on Which We Stand is playing at Luna Stage in West Orange through June 22, 2025. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to lunastage.org.
