Boulstridge, Lillian Mitchell, Jeff Peterson and Andy
Leahy rehearse a scene from “Alabama Story” being
staged Dec. 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17 and 18. (Provided
photo)
The Drama Group will bring a true story of race, censorship and politics to the stage when it presents “Alabama Story” over the next two weekends.
The play has been described as a humor-laced social justice drama that focuses on a children’s book that some believe has a hidden message. It stirs the passions of a segregationist state legislator who faces off against a state librarian.
The play will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17 and 2 p.m. Dec. 11 and 18 at The Drama Group Studio Theatre, 330 W. 202nd St. in Chicago Heights. Tickets are $20 for adults; $19 for seniors and $15 for students with ID.
In keeping with the theme of the play, guests attending on Thursday, Dec. 15, can get two tickets for the price of one by bringing a new or gently used children’s book to be donated to local schools in the area. Guests attending on Thursday, Dec. 15, can participate in a buy one-get one ticket free offer by bringing a new or gently used children’s book.
The play is directed by Suzanne Ashlock of Homewood, with Linda Hart of Homewood as production manager and Karen Forsythe Photography of Homewood as the staff photographer.
The play is set in Montgomery, Ala., in 1959, just as the civil rights movement is taking shape.
The children’s book is just one story line in the play. The other is of childhood friends – an African American man and a white woman of privilege – who are reunited as adults. Their stories give counterpoint to the public events led by the librarian and the legislator.
Since its premiere in January 2015, “Alabama Story” has been nominated for the Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award and was a finalist in the 2014 National Playwrights Conference of the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center. The Drama Group performances will be the play’s community theater debut.
For additional information, visit www.dramagroup.org or call 708-755-3444 for box office information.