Carson-Newman Theatre presents “Walk, Don’t Ride!”, Feb. 25-26

(Feb. 19, 2016) – Carson-Newman University Theatre will present “Walk, Don’t Ride! A Celebration of the Fight for Equality” by Peter Manos on Feb. 25–26. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. in Gentry Auditorium.

The story chronicles in words and song the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. From the Montgomery bus boycott and lunch counter sit-ins to the Greyhound/Trailways freedom rides, the performance demonstrates how blacks and whites came together to peacefully protest segregation in America, often risking injury and death.

“Manos has carefully crafted the script using words spoken by some of the great civil rights leaders, songs of struggle and triumph to provide context,” said Associate Professor of Theatre Kyle Biery, director of the production. “It is an incredibly compelling work, a demonstration of the power theatre has to encourage positive change.“

The cast includes students Joseph Brown, Conner Dickson, Jacob Lindsey, Hope Roberts, Anna Shackelford, Alec Smith, Alicia Smith, Momo Smith, Dustin Tolson and community member Yolanda Treece.

The production is part of is part of the University’s “A Simple Justice: The Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act,” a year-long observance of the historical event.

The U.S. Voting Rights Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 6, 1965. The act meant to enforce the 15th Amendment of the Constitution ratified by Congress in 1870.

The bill was created to guarantee African-Americans the right to vote and made it illegal to impose restrictions on any federal, state and local elections that were designed to deny the vote to blacks.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students.

Gentry Auditorium is located in Henderson Humanities Building on Carson-Newman’s campus.