Arts & Entertainment

Ken Burns Will Discuss New Series At Newark Event: ‘The American Revolution’

"New Jersey stands at the very center of that story – known as the crossroads of the American Revolution," the acclaimed filmmaker said.

NEWARK, NJ — Acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns will appear live at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark to discuss his new six-part, 12-hour documentary: “The American Revolution.”

The documentary examines how America’s founding “turned the world upside-down, reshaped a continent, and inspired democratic movements around the globe.” New Jersey, known as the “Crossroads of the American Revolution,” features prominently in the series.

The film will premiere on Sunday, Nov. 16 and air for six consecutive nights through Friday, Nov. 21 on PBS stations nationally. The full series will be available to stream beginning Sunday, Nov. 16 at PBS.org and on the PBS App.

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Burns will be the special guest at an event at the NJPAC at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to attend and introduced the esteemed filmmaker. Journalist and television news anchor Brian Williams will moderate the discussion.

Burns will be joined by co-director Sarah Botstein and film advisor/historian Christopher Brown from Columbia University. Learn more or purchase tickets here.

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“We encourage everyone — especially parents, teachers, and students — to join us on Sept. 17 for this unique opportunity to explore our state’s rich history,” Murphy said.

The filmmaker said the series has been in the works for nearly a decade. And the Garden State has a big role in it, he added.

“New Jersey stands at the very center of that story, known as the crossroads of the American Revolution, it was the site of many battles and scrimmages, and played a decisive role in shaping the outcome of the war and the future of our nation,” Burns said.

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