IT'S THE 50TH YEAR CELEBRATION OF THE FREEDOM RIDERS--AND A TRAVELLING PRODUCTION CREW REVISITS THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT TO TAKE US BACK TO A VERY SPECIAL MOMENT IN TIME.
MIKE WILEY PRODUCTIONS IS IN TOWN TO HONOR AND PAY HOMMAGE TO THOSE WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR FREEDOM AND EQUALITY. IN THE PLAY--THE PARCHMENT HOUR--THE THIRTEEN MEMBER CAST DEPICTS THE LIVES AND EXPERIENCES OF THE 19-61 FREEDOM RIDES. THE MUSICAL- SLASH-DOCUMENTARY TELLS A STORY ABOUT HOW THE RIDES BEGAN AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ACTIVISTS' EXPERIENCES WHILE AT THE PARCHMENT PENITENTIARY. THIS IS THE FIRST TOUR FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA PRODUCTION HOUSE--AND THEY PLAN TO CONTINUE THEIR TRAVEL ACROSS THE STATE--CARRYING WITH THEM--A MESSAGE OF APPRECIATION. "MISSISSIPPI IS THE EPICENTER OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS GIVING THANKS TO THOSE FOLKS DOWN HERE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES OR PUT THEIR BODIES IN FRONT OF HARMS WAY SO THAT WE AROUND THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTHEAST BECAUSE WE'RE ALL FROM NORTH CAROLINA...UNC...AND DUKE, UH SO THAT WE ALL COULD BE FREE SO THAT WE COULD ALL SIT TOGETHER AND ENJOY WHAT WE DO HAVE TODAY. THE PRODUCTION IS A CO-SPONSORSHIP BETWEEN THE CENTER FOR DOCUMENTARY STUDIES AT DUKE UNIVERSITY AND THE MISSISSIPPI CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.