In honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., a play on the role of the Susquehanna River and the Underground Railroad opened Monday at Penn State Harrisburg.
This marks the 15th year that a new dramatic production has been brought to the Middletown Campus for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The play is entitled ‘Susquehanna Freedom: The role of the Susquehanna River in the Underground Railroad. It was written by Dr. Dorothy King, assistant professor of sociology at Penn State and directed by Ronda Peters.
Work on the play began five years ago when those involved went to historians, librarians and professors in ten counties that border the Susquehanna River.
Those counties were everywhere from Cooperstown, New York to Havre de Grace, Maryland. Each provided a unique story that was created into a theater piece,
The playwright says that each year she tries to do things that other people don't do for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
"Many people do civil rights and they focus on the ‘I have a dream speech,’” King told us. “We tried to do King’s legacy which is broader than that we focus on things other people don't focus on."
Narfae Cloud of Steelton came because her grandson was in the production.
"I was born in Birmingham, Alabama so I dealt with slavery and I never forget the things we used to go through,” explained Cloud. “Whenever I watch something like this it always brings me back, it is a blessing to see how far we came."
"I thought it was inspiring and so informative as well seeing the role that people played up and down the Susquehanna River in providing a safe haven," commented Jim Dawes.
Actor Damian Rexrodh found the experience worthwhile.
"I kind of feel like I was able to portray what we went through because MLK made such a big impact on colored people,” Rexrodh continued.
In addition to the ten stories, the play also speculate on how a trio of escaping slaves might've actually made its way to freedom using the river as a guide.
There is only one more opportunity to see the play. It will be staged Tuesday at noon at the Olmsted Theater at Penn State Harrisburg.
This marks the 15th year that a new dramatic production has been brought to the Middletown Campus for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The play is entitled ‘Susquehanna Freedom: The role of the Susquehanna River in the Underground Railroad. It was written by Dr. Dorothy King, assistant professor of sociology at Penn State and directed by Ronda Peters.
Work on the play began five years ago when those involved went to historians, librarians and professors in ten counties that border the Susquehanna River.
Those counties were everywhere from Cooperstown, New York to Havre de Grace, Maryland. Each provided a unique story that was created into a theater piece,
The playwright says that each year she tries to do things that other people don't do for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
"Many people do civil rights and they focus on the ‘I have a dream speech,’” King told us. “We tried to do King’s legacy which is broader than that we focus on things other people don't focus on."
Narfae Cloud of Steelton came because her grandson was in the production.
"I was born in Birmingham, Alabama so I dealt with slavery and I never forget the things we used to go through,” explained Cloud. “Whenever I watch something like this it always brings me back, it is a blessing to see how far we came."
"I thought it was inspiring and so informative as well seeing the role that people played up and down the Susquehanna River in providing a safe haven," commented Jim Dawes.
Actor Damian Rexrodh found the experience worthwhile.
"I kind of feel like I was able to portray what we went through because MLK made such a big impact on colored people,” Rexrodh continued.
In addition to the ten stories, the play also speculate on how a trio of escaping slaves might've actually made its way to freedom using the river as a guide.
There is only one more opportunity to see the play. It will be staged Tuesday at noon at the Olmsted Theater at Penn State Harrisburg.