By CYNTHIA COLLINS
Actors Theatre of Indiana Co-founder
“I believe books rescue people from the shadow of ignorance.”
These are the words spoken by the character Emily Reed in Kenneth Jones’ play, Alabama Story.
In 1959, the real-life Ms. Reed was the State Librarian in Alabama. She fought a battle against the good ‘ol boys of the State Legislature to keep a book from being banned from the shelves. That book was The Rabbit’s Wedding by Garth Williams, where a white rabbit marries a black rabbit.
In 2019, Actors Theatre of Indiana presented the Indiana premiere of Mr. Jones’ play, where I had the honor of portraying librarian Emily Reed. This fearless, unsung hero would be a welcome voice during these trying times in our country today. She fought her battle with dignity and grace, much like Dr. Martin Luther King did during the Civil Rights movement. The racial tensions of that time seem to be repeating themselves today, but I believe that through education, patience and persistence, good will prevail over evil and those who spread hate will be the minority.
Although we will never fully wipe out racism, forging ahead with a message of acceptance can only make our country a better place for ALL to live.
We hope after watching this powerful, beautifully written play, it will inspire you to have discussions with family and friends about the significance of this piece – that these real-life events of 1959 are still relevant today.
Let’s all make a difference in this world, no matter how large or small.
Audiences can enjoy our Stream-On-Demand from Jan. 18 to Feb. 14. To purchase tickets, please visit our website at atistage.org or call the Center for the Performing Arts box office at (317) 843-3800. Tickets are $35.