Musical celebrates MLK's life, influence
http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/flint/index.ssf/2010/02/musical_celebrates_mlks_life_i.html
February 11, 2010
By Rene Wheaton
Making sure the life of Martin Luther King Jr. isn't reduced to just
a few lines from his famous "I Have a Dream" speech is just one
mission of the New McCree Theatre's upcoming production "Let Nobody
Turn Me 'Round."
The gospel musical, written by Reuben Yabuku, celebrates the life of
King and the civil rights movement by focusing on his non-violent
movement, the Alabama bus boycott, King's Birmingham, Ala., protest
for equal rights and other events prior to his assassination in 1968.
"It's important that we never lose sight of those that have carried
us thus far, in terms of the struggle for human rights and human
decency," said Charles Winfrey, executive director of the theater.
"This play is really a celebration of the civil rights struggle,
primarily seen through the eyes of the late Dr. Martin Luther King."
The production at McCree marks the first time the play will be
presented outside of Detroit. Performances are scheduled for Feb. 18
through March 6.
"The show was very well-received in Detroit," said the author and
director, Yabuku, who is from Detroit. "We had sell-out audiences,
which we are hoping to replicate here in Flint."
While he would describe the play as a gospel musical, Winfrey said
it's not limited to gospel music. It also features African-American
spirituals, protest songs, excerpts from speeches and actual footage
from the civil rights movement.
Yabuku said he hopes audiences will be both educated and entertained
by the play. He wants the same for younger members of the cast, too.
"We're looking for teachable moments whenever possible," Yabuku said.
"It's important the young people involved understand the message of
the play. We're serious about what we're doing, but at the same time
we want them to have a good time."
Organizers also want the community to know the play is intended for
people of all ethnic backgrounds.
"The play really addresses the idea of struggle," Yabuku said. "The
idea of struggle goes beyond black history. It's our story, but it's
the story of a lot of ethnicities. Martin Luther King Jr. belongs to everyone."
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PREVIEW
• What: "Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round," musical by Reuben Yabuku
• Where: "New" McCree Theatre, 5005 Cloverlawn, Flint
• When: Preview shows 8 p.m. Feb. 12-13; regular shows 8 p.m.
Thursdays-Fridays and 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays Feb. 18-March 6
• Tickets: Preview shows $8 adults ($10 at door), $5 senior citizens
and students ($6 at door); and $10; regular shows $12 adults ($15 at
door), $7 senior citizens and students ($10 at door)
• Info: (810) 787-2200
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Play About King Planned for Broadway
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/theater/11arts-PLAYABOUTKIN_BRF.html
By PATRICK HEALY; Compiled by DAVE ITZKOFF
Published: February 10, 2010
"The Mountaintop," a two-character play that imagines a surprising
turn of events for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., above, on the
night before his assassination, is aiming for Broadway in the fall,
the producers Jean Doumanian and Sonia Friedman announced Wednesday.
The play, by Katori Hall, received a critically praised production in
London last summer, and the producers said in a statement they were
eager to capitalize on its success by moving ahead on Broadway. They
said they were in negotiations with Kenny Leon to direct; he is
directing the forthcoming revival of August Wilson's "Fences" on
Broadway. Ms. Hall has said in interviews that her inspiration for
the play came partly from her mother, who grew up near the Lorraine
Motel in Memphis, where Dr. King was assassinated, and regretted not
going to hear him speak on the day before he was killed. (He
delivered his "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech.) The play's
characters are Dr. King and a woman who at first seems to be a hotel
maid. Casting, performance dates and a theater are yet to be announced.
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Play honors civil rights leaders
http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20100207/NEWS01/2070332
February 7, 2010
When one thinks of Black History, two prominent figures stand out as
influential people fighting in their own way for civil rights. One,
of course, is Martin Luther King Jr. and the other is Malcolm X.
To commemorate the lives and work of these important men, assistant
professor in the ULM Division of Theatre and Dance, Kyle Zimmerman,
directs a play called "The Meeting."
The play is about a fictional meeting between Martin Luther King Jr.
and Malcolm X. In real life, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X
only met once for about a minute before a news conference at the
Senate debate on the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
ULM students Jerry Golden and Milton Crosby play the roles of Martin
Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, respectively.
"A lot of people don't understand that their views were quite
different," Golden said.
"Martin Luther King Jr. believes in a nonviolent movement and Malcolm
X believes in aggression. They really didn't get along," Crosby said.
Martin Luther King Jr. fought for civil rights through nonviolent
means, whereas, Malcolm X was much more radical. Both men, however,
influenced the public at large and launched the shift toward equal rights.
"The thing I love about this [play] is that they're real characters.
They really existed, and it gives these actors a chance to get into
someone who really existed, to figure out more about their life,"
Zimmerman said.
On the other hand, "There's also that challenge when these guys are
up on stage, people are going to be expecting them to be an icon,"
Zimmerman said.
Not only is performing as these characters a great challenge, but
also a great honor. "I wanted to play Malcolm X because he was a
great icon and great figure in black history," Crosby said.
At first, "There was a big contention because everybody wanted to
play Malcolm X, including me, but I'm white," Zimmerman said.
According to Golden, "He (Zimmerman) made me realize that I'm getting
to participate in something special. Plus, I really enjoy going back
and forth (with Crosby)."
Golden said the most important thing about this play is that the
audience will "get to see Malcolm X's point of view and Martin Luther
King's point of view. The people that were around when Malcolm X and
Martin Luther King were around, it's still in their heads, but our
generation needs a refresher."
Zimmerman said big ideas such as the ones Martin Luther King Jr. and
Malcolm X had get started "through discussion and through dialogue,
and by sharing information, agreeing and disagreeing. Disagreeing is
just as important."
"One of the things that I like about it (the play) is that there's a
lot of conversation, a lot of dialogue," Zimmerman said.
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