April 18, 2025 will mark the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s famous “two if by sea” lantern signal in Old North Church’s steeple. To celebrate this momentous anniversary, Old North Illuminated will stage a free reading of the hit play Revolution’s Edge behind Old North Church on Paul Revere Mall!

Written by Patrick Gabridge and produced by Plays in Place, Revolution’s Edge is a gripping 45-minute historical drama that ran at Old North Church in the summers of 2023 and 2024. The play garnered critical acclaim and press coverage from the Associated Press, WBUR’s Radio Boston, and WGBH’s Boston Public Radio.

Revolution’s Edge takes us to the afternoon of April 18, 1775, hours before the signal lanterns would shine from Old North’s steeple. As three real-life characters have an imagined conversation, long-simmering tensions reflecting the complexities of life in colonial Boston come to a boil. Joyce Kulhawik, a Boston arts critic, called Revolution’s Edge, "a uniquely engaging time-travel experience…superbly acted and elegantly written… I felt our history alive around me, and how connected we all are across time. The resonance in our own day is haunting…Must see.”

The event will be held outdoors on Paul Revere Mall (or a nearby indoor location in case of rain). Most audience members will stand, but space will be held for wheelchair and companion seating. The event will take place in the evening, and timed so that Old North’s lanterns light up at the conclusion of the reading, and at the beginning of the reenactment of Revere’s row across the Charles River. More details on the exact timing will come soon! 

Friday, April 18, 2025
Evening (Exact Time TBA)
Paul Revere Mall, Boston’s North End
Free and Open to the Public