Dr. Bernard Lafayette
On the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Ride demonstrations in which hundreds of Black activists boarded buses traveling through Southern states to protest segregation, the 91制片厂 Theatre Arts Department is furthering the conversation with a production of 鈥淭oo Heavy for Your Pocket,鈥� Jir茅h Breon Holder鈥檚 exploration of the struggles those activists faced in joining the movement.
The conversation begins on between civil rights leader Dr. Bernard Lafayette, Jr., who participated in the Freedom Rides, and 91制片厂 Associate Professor of Theatre Kevin Long; 91制片厂 theatre student Jeremy Haynes, who plays the lead role of Bowsie; dramaturg Mary T. Christel; and Dorothy Walker, site director of the Freedom Rides Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. The timing of the not only commemorates the actions of the Freedom Riders, but it also serves as a vehicle for discussion about the continuing fight for equality, according to Long, who is directing the play.
鈥淭here are moments in the play where the characters stop and breathe together,鈥� Long said, noting the correlation with the quote, 鈥淚 can鈥檛 breathe,鈥� by George Floyd and Eric Garner. 鈥淚t symbolizes the promise of something coming up or freedom from something or a calming moment. Or even as the audience, it gives us time to reflect on what has happened.鈥�
Long said the , which is scheduled for four performances April 21-25, likely wouldn鈥檛 have happened had it not been for the pandemic because productions at 91制片厂 typically involve as many students as possible. Social distancing measures prevented a large cast, though, so Long chose a play with an ensemble of four actors. While they will soon head to the theater to begin rehearsing in a physical space, preparations have already begun behind the scenes, Long said, adding that the work on stage will largely focus on timing and pacing.
Jeremy, a 91制片厂 student and creative writing/spoken word artist, said all the preparations have taken place virtually so far.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been interesting figuring out the space in my head. They鈥檝e shown us pictures of the stage, and they鈥檙e helping to go over the material,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 trying to discover something different about my character every time I put myself in his shoes.鈥�
Jeremy said he was first introduced to the character of Bowsie in one of Long鈥檚 classes, where he was tasked with performing one of the fictional Freedom Rider鈥檚 monologues for his final exam. The script resonated with him on a personal level, he said, because of the continuing struggle for equality that he sees in the world around him.
鈥淚 read the whole play to be more connected to the monologue and get a better understanding of the play,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 read the play and I was just crying, and I鈥檓 not a crier. It just pulled out everything that was happening with the protests at the time last year.鈥�
Since being asked to perform the role last year, Jeremy said he has been learning more about the civil rights movement and the Freedom Rides through documentaries and other material. Long said Jeremy and other students will get an even deeper understanding of the Freedom Rider movement through the upcoming conversation with Dr. Lafayette.
鈥淗e can ask questions and get info to create a truthful, authentic, meaningful representation of what the Freedom Riders were going through,鈥� he said.
Long was put in touch with Dr. Lafayette by Freedom Rides Museum Director Walker, who also will speak at the upcoming forum.
鈥淚鈥檓 so appreciative to have them,鈥� Long said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just doing a play 鈥� it鈥檚 also creating life experiences for all of the students involved and our community.鈥�
The 鈥淪ubject Matters Discussion: Too Heavy for Your Pocket鈥� is scheduled at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 28.