By Sonya Bernard-Hollins, editor
editor@comvoicesonline.com
KALAMAZOO (MI)-How did Kalamazoo become the city it is today? While every town has a history, Kalamazoo’s rich history includes such diversity it has been highlighted in a play.
“My Heart Belongs to You, Kalamazoo,” is a play created with the conceptual genius of director and by award-winning playwright, Von Washington Sr. The one-day only performance will be held at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10 at the Epic Center Theater. The ticket also includes a dinner catered by the Park Club. The play is a fundraising event for Issac and tickets are tax-deductible.
In this unique collaboration, Washington has recruited nearly 20 of the area’s top actors, vocalists, historians and community leaders to tell an in-depth yet entertaining story of a city and its dynamic roots.
“For years I’ve worked with every one of these people, and this is an honor for me to for the first time, work with them all on the same stage,” Washington said.
Production crew include Music director Curtis Gulledge, Sr., Stage manager Molly Hopper, and Historian Sonya Bernard-Hollins. Contributing playwrights include: Buddy Hannah, Julianne Schmidt, Robert Smith, Carol Payne Smith and Fran Washington. The cast includes many of the crew and contributing writers along with: Tim Terrentine, Von Washington Jr., Jim Ongwela, Tami Cooper, Anthony Hamilton, Sharon Russell, Ron Ware, Angelo Washington, Alfrelynn Roberts, Theresa Williams Johnson, Romeo Phillips, Janai Travis, Sharon Williams, Bob Smith, Carol Payne Smith and lead singer of the Velvelette’s, Caldin Street.
My participation in “My Heart…” is both an honor and a pleasure, as I will be working with some very talented and professional heavy hitters in theater in our community,” said Street. ” While I’m a professional singer and entertainer, I am indeed, a novice, when it comes to this kind of thing. Even though I play myself in this play, which should be relatively easy, I still feel challenged.
“I think this experience will open eyes and educate many on the diversity of people from our community that participated in the ongoing struggle for civil rights, quality education and opportunities, and the social interactions that helped shape this community as we see it today.”
Sharon Williams also is excited about her role in the production. She plays reporter and Mrs. Judith Jablonski.
“Because I only moved to Kalamazoo in 1982, I didn’t know about the dramatic struggles our town had during the 1960s and before. I hope the audience learns about the courageous acts of people involved in the VanAvery drugstore boycott, and students like Cal Gill (Street) who faced disdain and danger when they attended the previously all-white Loy Norrix High School,” said Williams.Originally from Belleville, Ill., Williams moved to Kalamazoo from Cedar Falls, Iowa. She is an actress and has worked as the Volunteer Coordinator at the KIA for nine years, “retiring” in 2007.
“I met Von first when I saw him in a play that was part of the Regional American College Theatre Festival held that year at WMU,” said Williams.
“He was on the faculty at Wayne State at that time. Later I acted with him at the Kalamazoo College Festival in THE CHERRY ORCHARD and then in A LESSON FROM ALOES directed by Bob Smith.
Later, Von joined the faculty at WMU to lead the Multicultural Theatre program. I’ve done some acting with Washington Productions.”
Playwright Von Washington is no stranger to history. For more than two decades he and his wife,
Fran, have toured the national working toward educating those of all ages about history through Washington Productions Inc.
Washington recently learned that his stage play, “Obituary Blues,” was selected for the winter competition of the Riant Theatre’s Strawberry One-Act Festival, in New York City. For Washington this is the third time that the Riant Theatre, an arm of the Black Experimental Theatre of New York, has included one of his plays in their competition. Previously Fighting Fires and Looking for Talika were selected for the competition, with Fighting Fires receiving a Best Play citation, in 2007.
Washington, current director of the Multicultual Theatre Program at Western Michigan University has been called a modern-day storyteller. His
plays explore the social and psychological difficulties associated with being an African American living in modern day America. Dr. Joan Herrington, dramaturge, author, and chairperson of the theatre department at WMU, said of Washington’s writing, “His insightful, action packed, emotional plays reveal the pain and laughter of men, women, and children fighting to find a better position in their ever changing world; a world that is constantly confronted with differing views on gender, race, philosophy, politics, sex, and status.
This play and the collaboration of Washington’s professional friends will be one for the history books—and the stage.
For more information regarding the play or tickets to the performance, contact Issac's offices at 269-341-4213 or visit: www.issackalamazoo.org.
