By Janice Malone
NASHVILLE, TN — The Tennessee State University Department of Communications and its Theatre Program will present Joe Turner’s Come and Gone by African American playwright August Wilson on November 6, 7, & 8, @7:00PM and November 9th @ 3:00 PM at The Tennessee Performing Arts Center – Cox/Lewis Theater.
The play takes place in Pittsburgh in 1911 where people in a boarding house come to the city searching for lost loved ones, trying to hold down jobs and all ‘looking for their song,’ so to speak.
“This comedic drama explores the African American experience of living in times of slavery with unknown circumstances, exploring social structures, racism, migration, self-identification, spirituality, blood lines and how we make personal choices that we hope will enhance our lives,” notes TSU Professor Marc Payne, who will be directing the production.
“It was decided that we would select productions for this season that would help our students not only pursue their talents in the performing arts but would also benefit them academically too. The play Joe Turner’s Come and Gone was being discussed in some of the drama classes, so we figured it would be a good production to use,” says TSU Theatre Coordinator Dr. Peter Anthony Fields.
Wilson’s play includes an ensemble of characters portrayed by TSU students ranging from Bertha and Seth Holly, owners of the Boarding House to Bynum Walker, a conjure man. There is also Mattie Campbell, a woman looking for her lost love and Molly, a woman simply looking for love among others.
Rehearsals for the upcoming show started in September.
According to Dr. Fields, their next production will be a collaboration with the Circle Players Theater, on the musical Ragtime, which will start January 15 – 25th.
In March 2015, the TSU University Department of Communications and its Theatre Program will present the play ‘Thurgood,’ which is based on part of the life of the great Thurgood Marshall.
The Joe Turner’s Come and Gone production is free and open to the public. “We decided to have free admission and have an open door policy, so that everyone can come out and enjoy a great evening of the theater arts with us,” concludes Dr. Fields.
For further information please contact: Dr. Peter Fields Theatre Coordinator, TSU Theatre Dept. (615) 963-5965