[NoHo Arts District, CA] – Producers Suzanne Matlack DeLaurentiis, Dale Fabrigar, and Nicole Mendez announce the production of The Fighting Quaker, a landmark theatrical event celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, on Thursday, June 4 at the iconic El Portal Theatre.
“Historic Live Drama Honors the Man Who Hand-Wrote the Declaration of Independence.”
About The Fighting Quaker
Directed by Bryan Rasmussen and written by the late Ann Matlack DeLaurentiis and Tricia Aurand, the 40-minute drama brings to life the remarkable and largely forgotten story of Timothy Matlack – the man who hand-inscribed the final official copy of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
The Fighting Quaker traces Matlack’s journey from debtor’s prison to the halls of the Second Continental Congress, where – on the recommendation of Benjamin Franklin – he took quill in hand and preserved the most important document in American history. A colonel who crossed the Delaware and later championed the abolition of slavery, Matlack was a man whose convictions grew stronger even as his world grew harder.
The play’s message resonates far beyond the 18th century: studies show that writing by hand activates more brain circuits than typing, strengthening memory, comprehension, and language development – and in today’s digital world, Matlack’s act of penmanship stands as both legacy and call to action.
“I hope we can inspire audiences not only to reflect on our nation’s history but also reconnect with this simple, powerful act of writing,” says producer Suzanne Matlack DeLaurentiis, herself a descendant of Timothy Matlack and the daughter of playwright Ann Matlack DeLaurentiis, who first brought this story to the stage in 1968.
The production is sponsored by the Mendez National Institute of Transplantation Foundation (MNITF), which raises awareness for kidney disease and organ donation. The evening is an MNITF fundraiser that will include a festive food and drinks reception, gift bags, a VIP gifting suite, and an exclusive meet-the-cast experience following the performance. Attire is cocktail and business.
About Suzanne Matlack DeLaurentiis Productions
A Hollywood producer with more than 100 productions and four decades of experience, Suzanne Matlack DeLaurentiis is the first filmmaker to receive a civilian accommodation medal from the United States military for her service to veterans. She was honored with a second medal by the Order of Saint Maurice in 2025. She is a descendant of Timothy Matlack and the daughter of the play’s original author, Ann Matlack DeLaurentiis. https://suzannedelaurentiisproduction.com/
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