This story was originally published on April 9, 2014, and is being republished to honor Ed Asner. 

Legendary actor and activist Ed Asner will perform his solo show “FDR” as a benefit for the New Jewish Theatre on at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 27 at Washington University’s Edison Theatre, 6465 Forsyth Boulevard. The solo performance is based upon Dore Schary’s 1958 Tony Award winning play Sunrise at Campobello, which ran 70 weeks on Broadway. The Jewish Light is the media sponsor of the event.

“FDR” explores the life of one of America’s best-loved presidents and the events and decisions that shaped a nation. The play takes the audience through President Roosevelt’s White House years, including the Depression, the lead-up to World War II and the years during the war.

The play depicts his fireside chats; his controversial packing of the Supreme Court; his personal life with Eleanor and his discreet but definite affair with Lucy Mercer; his courage to break the Neutrality Act; his manipulation of Congress (in order to get the country to have a draft); the Pearl Harbor controversy and the benevolent dictatorship he called the presidency from 1933–44, the first president in history to be elected to four terms.

Asner delivers a fearless performance of this dynamic and powerful world leader.

A native of Kansas City, Asner has received seven Emmy Awards (“Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Lou Grant”) and 16 nominations and five Golden Globe Awards. He received the Screen Actors Guild’s Life Achievement Award and he was inducted into the TV Academy Hall of Fame in 1996.

Asner has also become a determined advocate for human rights, world peace, environmental preservation and political freedom.

General admission tickets are $50. Sponsor tickets are available at several levels beginning at $150 for two tickets (limited number available). Sponsor tickets include admission to the sponsor reception with Asner following the performance. Tickets are available at newjewishtheatre.org or 314-442-3283.