New Stage Theatre to open political thriller “ALL THE WAY”

 

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Mississippi Premiere – Hot Off Its Broadway Run!
ALL THE WAY
By Robert Schenkkan
October 21-25 and October 28-November 1 at 7:30 pm
October 26 and November 2 at 2:00 pm
Tickets $28; $22 seniors/students
Directed by Francine Thomas Reynolds
Sponsored By Sanderson Farms, MDAH, and Butler Snow
This gripping and suspenseful new play from Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan features a company of 24 stage actors playing some of history’s most dynamic figures: J. Edgar Hoover; Martin Luther King, Jr.; Governor George Wallace; Senator Hubert Humphrey; Secretary of Defense Robert J. McNamara and LBJ himself. 1964: A pivotal year in American history—a landmark civil rights bill was passed, America began its involvement in Vietnam…and one man sat at the center of it all, determined to lift the country out of the ashes and rebuild it into The Great Society—by any means necessary. Hero. Bully. President. He played whatever part it took to win the day. It’s not personal, it’s just politics.
For tickets, call the Box Office at 601.948.3531 orhttp://www.newstagetheatre.com/
America at the Turning Point: Conversations on All The Way
THE LEGACY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964
Join us on Tuesday, October 21 at Noon in the House of Representatives Chamber at the Old Capitol Museum. In attendance will be Governor William Winter, featured Mississippi Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement and moderator Dr. Daphne Chamberlain, Assistant Professor of History at Tougaloo College.
ARTS AND CULTURE IN TIMES OF STRUGGLE AND DRAMATIZING POLITICS AND HISTORY
Join us on Thursday, October 23 at 6:30 pm at New Stage Theatre. In attendance will be Jim Child, New Stage Theatre founding board member; John O’Neal, Free Southern Theater co-founder; Company Members of All The Way and moderator Carlton Turner, Alternate ROOTS Executive Director.
FREEDOM SUMMER 1964 – ITS HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE MOVEMENT
Join us on Friday, October 24 from 9-10 am at the Friday Forum at Koinonia in Jackson. In attendance will be Reverend Ed King, civil rights activist; Jackson State University professor emeritus of political science Dr. Leslie-Burl McLemore; Company Members of All The Way, and moderator Daphne Chamberlain, Assistant Professor of History at Tougaloo College.
All panel discussions are free to the public.
AMERICA AT THE TURNING POINT: CONVERSATIONS ON ALL THE WAY program is financially assisted by the National Endowment for the Humanities through the Mississippi Humanities Council.
New Stage Theatre Youth Acting Troupe PresentsThe Not So Wicked Witch Party
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New Stage Theatre’s Youth Acting Troupe will present a play adaptation of the children’s book “The Not So Wicked, Wicked Witch” by Amy Purser Carter, in October, at selected venues in the Metro Jackson area.
“The Not So Wicked, Wicked Witch” is a children’s book about a witch that is “labeled” in name only. The story itself reveals an old philosophy, “you cannot judge a book by its cover, but read the contents and then decide”.
The Not So Wicked Witch Party, a play written by Kerri Courtney Sanders and adapted from Carter’s book, is set on Halloween night. Children are donning their best costumes and all manner of creatures stand at the ready to give them a great fright…all except one. She is the Not So Wicked, Wicked Witch, and she prefers skipping to spooking, cookies to witches’ brews, and, of all things, PINK to a witch’s favorite: orange!! Legend has it that each Halloween she leaves a path for good girls and boys to come to her home for a spook-free celebration!
“The collaboration between Mrs. Carter and our Youth Acting Troupe is a welcome one”, says Chris Roebuck, Education Director at New Stage Theatre. “We have always envisioned the Youth Acting Troupe as an environment our students to not only hone their craft through performing established plays, but also by working with local writers, artists and each other to develop and perform new works of dramatic art.”
The play will be presented at the Mississippi Children’s Museum on Saturday, October 11th at 10:00 a.m., 10:45 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.; Highland Village courtyard on Saturday October 18th at 11:00 a.m.; and at Persnickety in Madison on Saturday, October 25th at 11:00 a.m. Admission for all performances is free.
The Not So Wicked Witch Party and event will also include an appearance by the book’s author Amy Purser Carter, a book signing at the Highland Village and Persnickety performances and a costume contest. Children are encouraged to dress in costume.
A find-the-wicked-witch contest is ongoing on the “The Not So Wicked, Wicked Witch” Facebook page. Want a chance to win a book and doll? For the next three Wednesdays, author Amy Purser Carter will be posting a picture of the Not So Wicked, Wicked Witch somewhere around town. Be the first person to message her the location on the “The Not So Wicked, Wicked Witch” Facebook page, and you will win! Just take a look at the picture, message her your guess, and come claim your prize at thatSaturday’s show! The Witch Hunt is on!
The show will be performed by three different casts. The first cast for theNot So Wicked Witch Party, performing at the Children’s Museum, is Taylor Gray (Madison), Madeline Porter (Jackson), Emily Earle (Brandon), Claire Porter (Jackson), Camille Halverson (Jackson), Fikunmi Idowu (Madison), Kingsley Nwaokorie (Jackson), Reese Overstreet (Madison), and Marie Hussels (Madison). The second cast, performing at Children’s Museum and Highland Village, is Meghan Tanaka (Ridgeland), Michael Maloney (Ridgeland), Emily Earle (Brandon), Alex Mangieri (Brandon), Alice McPhail (Jackson), Sara Waldbauer (Clinton), Luke Langford (Hattiesburg), Bailey Graves (Brandon), and Alex Forbes (Jackson). The third cast, performing at the Children’s Museum and Persnickety, is Meghan Tanaka (Ridgeland), Max Nelson (Brandon), Chesney Mitchell (Brandon), Lauren Tanaka (Ridgeland), Kaitlyn Fowler (Jackson), Susanna Blount (Jackson), Ishmael Gray (Jackson), Avery Neyland (Brandon), and Meagan Gautier (Ridgeland).
New Stage Theatre’s Youth Acting Troupe was formed in 2011. It is open to youth ages 12-18 and no previous acting experience is necessary. The troupe meets for class and rehearsals on Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. throughout the school year. The troupe has performed plays at New Stage’s Warehouse Theatre, Belhaven Shakespeare in the Park, at The William Morris Library, Highland Village and at the Mississippi Children’s Museum. The next registration period will begin in January, 2015.
For more information contact Chris Roebuck at 601-948-3533 ext. 232 orcroebuck@newstagetheatre.com.

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