Actor Stephen LangOn July 1-3, 2021, acclaimed stage and screen actor, playwright and author Stephen Lang will hold in-person book signings for his book The Wheatfield in the Museum Book Store at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center.
As part of the events surrounding the 158th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, Lang will sign copies of his Gettysburg-inspired book The Wheatfield, as well as The Gettysburg Story: Battlefield Auto Tour in which he voiced the narrative. Lang’s book signings are scheduled from 1 until 3 p.m., Thursday, July 1, and 10 a.m. until noon, Friday, July 2 and Saturday, July 3.
A book for young readers, The Wheatfield tells the true story of Union Soldier and Medal of Honor recipient, James Jackson Purman, as he vividly recalls the Battle of Gettysburg and his fateful encounters in the Wheatfield in July 1863.
Patrons of the Museum Book Store July 1-3 have the opportunity to purchase in store Lang’s works for signing. The Wheatfield is available in the Museum Book Store, and a portion of the proceeds benefit the education and preservation mission of the Gettysburg Foundation.
The Wheatfield, Illustrated by Bros. Smith
On Thursday, July 1, Lang will be featured in the Gettysburg Anniversary Lecture Series evening programming at the Museum & Visitor Center. Lang’s sold-out performance will feature The Wheatfield. A story of sacrifice, courage and selflessness, Lang’s performance of The Wheatfield tells of Union Soldier and Medal of Honor awardee, James Jackson Purman, as he vividly recalls the Battle of Gettysburg and his fateful encounters with friends and foe. Returning to Gettysburg 50 years after the battle, Purman and other battle-weary Civil War veterans gather in harmony, stripping away their former allegiances to north and south in hopes of peaceful fellowship. The evening will also feature the premiere recitation of some of Lang’s new work.
Co-sponsored by Gettysburg National Military Park and the Gettysburg Foundation, the sold-out Gettysburg Anniversary Lecture Series hour-long evening presentations, July 1-3, will be available via livestream on Gettysburg National Military Park’s Facebook page.
On Friday, July 2, Lang will perform a reading of his book The Wheatfield at 2 p.m., as part of the battle anniversary special programming at the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital.
A highlight of the programming for the 158th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, Lang will perform the rare public reading of his book The Wheatfield that tells the true story of Union Soldier and Medal of Honor recipient, James Jackson Purman’s experiences during the battle in the Gettysburg Wheatfield.
Admission to the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital and the July 2 Lang reading is included with a ticket to the experiences at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, located minutes from the historic site. Friends of Gettysburg receive complimentary admission to the historic site. Limited seating and limited parking available. A ticket to the Museum & Visitor Center does not guarantee entry. Attendance is first-come, first-served.
With the popularity of visits to the historic site during the battle anniversary weekend, the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital is accessible via shuttle from the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, beginning at 10 a.m. The shuttle bus transports visitors to the Spangler Farm from the Museum & Visitor Center every 20 minutes three times each hour, 10 a.m. through 1:40 p.m. with no shuttle at noon. The shuttle bus returns visitors to the Museum & Visitor Center every 20 minutes three times each hour, with the final return shuttle departing the Spangler Farm at 2:50 p.m. A timed shuttle ticket to the historic site is included at no additional charge with a ticket to programs at the Museum & Visitor Center. In accordance with TSA guidelines on public transportation, face coverings/masks on the shuttle are required.
Timed shuttle tickets for July 2 are now available.
A longtime advocate of all things Gettysburg, Gettysburg National Military Park, the Gettysburg Foundation and the town of Gettysburg itself, in 2019, Lang received the inaugural Kinsley Award presented by the Gettysburg Foundation to an individual or organization exemplifying Abraham Lincoln’s vision of a humble, civil and inclusive society.
Lang is known for his roles on Broadway as Colonel Jessup in A Few Good Men, Happy Loman in Death of a Salesman, and a Tony-nominated performance as Lou in The Speed of Darkness. An award-winning playwright, Lang is also known for his performance documentary Beyond Glory, which tracks the ten-year odyssey behind his acclaimed solo performance piece about eight Medal of Honor recipients, which he continues to tour around the country.
His many films include Last Exit to Brooklyn, Tombstone, Gods and Generals, Public Enemies, Don’t Breathe, Avatar, and an unforgettable performance as Major General George E. Pickett in the 1993 film Gettysburg. Lang recently reprised his role as The Blind Man in Don’t Breathe 2, opening in movie theaters in August 2021. He reprises his starring role as Colonel Quaritch in James Cameron’s upcoming Avatar sequels beginning in 2022.