Musical portrays people in King's life
Pupils at Brookwood Elementary are keeping the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. alive.
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Brookwood Elementary fifth-graders Tres Moore (from left), Haley Matthews and Jackson Taylor rehearse for I Remember Martin Luther King Jr.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
On Thursday, the school, which is at 455 S. Old Belair Road in Grovetown, will present its 16th annual musical production of I Remember Martin Luther King Jr. at 2:15 and 7 p.m. An additional performance will be at 9:40 a.m. Friday at North Columbia Elementary, 2874 Ray Owens Road in Appling. Admission is free.
"It is a very positive and uplifting play," said Johnny Carr, a music specialist, who also is the director and choreographer of the fifth-grade cast.
Carr said the performance, which includes spiritual, patriotic and contemporary songs, pays homage to King in a unique way.
While the play begins with a video prelude chronicling the life of King from the 1950s, it concludes with photo clips of the fifth-graders, singing We Are the World of the 20th Century.
"Martin Luther King is not a part of the cast, but his life is told through his schoolteachers, his parents, his friends, the people who grew up with him," he said. "The only sad part (in the play) is when his assassination is mentioned."
But Carr stressed that the play does not dwell on King's death.
"We do not remember him because he is dead, but instead, we remember him for all the wonderful things he has done to change our world."
Nick Ayungo and Jacqueline Silva play the parents of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a rehearsal for the elementary school's 16th annual production of the musical about the late civil rights leader. The fifth-graders will perform twice Thursday and once Friday.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Unlike past stories, which have reported on the negative incidents of the civil rights movement, such as overturned buses and the chastisement of protestors, Carr said it was vitally important that King focused on the positive perspective of the civil rights era.
"This play deals with all of the positive things that came out of the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King Jr.'s life," he said. "This play has a powerful statement, and the message doesn't get old."