The Playhouse on Park production of John Kander and Fred Ebb’s The Scottsboro Boys officially opens June 28 at the theatre in West Hartford, Connecticut.
Directed by co-founder and co-artistic director Sean Harris and choreographed by co-founder and co-artistic director Darlene Zoller, the production (which runs through August 4) will feature a slate of community programming tied to The Scottsboro Boys, including a talkback following every performance.
On July 30, the Playhouse partners with The Connecticut Historical Society for a free panel discussion in conjunction with their “Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow” exhibit (a traveling exhibit from the New York Historical Society). Panelists for the conversation—which takes place at CHS in Hartford and is open to the public—include the Honorable Richard A. Robinson, Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, professor Diana R. Paulin of Trinity College, and Frank Mitchell, executive director of the Amistad Center for Arts & Culture. The panel at CHS will be moderated by attorney Valerie Caldwell-Gaines and will examine how theatre can help us address racism today and in American history. RSVP by emailing [email protected].
The production stars Troy Valjean Rucker as Haywood Patterson, Dennis Holland as The Interlocutor, Ivory McKay as Mr. Bones, Torrey Linder as Mr. Tambo, Renee J Sutherland as The Lady, and Cedric Greene as Olen Montgomery. Scottsboro also features Grant Reynolds as Charles Weems/Victoria Price, Justin Sturgis as Roy Wright, Jerry Hamilton as Andy Wright, Jaylan Evans as Ozie Powell/Ruby Bates, Cedrick Ekra as Clarence Norris, Alex Robertson as Willie Roberson, and Trishawn Paul as 13-year-old Eugene Williams.
In addition to the post-show discussions and July 30 event, Playhouse on Park will host a Young Professionals Night Out July 11 with $25 tickets available to theatregoers ages 21–35, including a pre-show reception. The Playhouse will also host two of its post-show open mic nights July 13 and August 3 free and open to the public.
For more information visit PlayhouseOnPark.org.
