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Eye of the Storm
The Story of Bayard Rustin, mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Book by McKinley Johnson, Music and Lyrics By McKinley Johnson, David Taylor & Marshall Titus
review by Ed Vincent
A very well written drama that cuts right to the chase. If we as
a people want to end discrimination, it should be for all, white, black, gay, straight, tall, short, thin, fat, atheist, and even a commie here and there. I have known and met several of Martin Luther King Jr.'s colleagues and have never heard the name of Bayard Rustin. It was Mr. Rustin who might very well have been the driving force for Mr. King to have embraced the
vision of Mahatma Gandhi and chose the path of non-violence
for his movement. The drama shows the energy and thought
behind many of the actions taken to push for equality. It also
brings to life many of the barbed differences between those
working together for one common goal. In the transition to
a more equal playing field one man and his people are left behind and forgotten...at least until this drama came to life.
Bayard Rustin had been all but forgotten and discarded in
the history of black Americans until this wonderful drama,
set to music came to the stage. Bayard Rustin was probably
the man I was listening to in King's addresses, or at least the
content and feel of the civil right's message. There were
many who he worked with who should have been ashamed
at their treatment of Mr. Rustin, as many of us still fear
to hear his cries for justice for all.
This was a bold production with wonderful performances
from all involved and many had done a lot more than
perform. The book was written by McKinley Johnson
(who did not act in the play, though did take part in the
music and lyrics creation) and David Taylor and
Marshal Titus also helped with music and lyrics. Mr.
Marshall Titus did all of the aforementioned and also
sang, danced, and played the role of Adam Clayton Powell.
The production was equal to some of the recent Tony
award winning plays and in some ways exceeded, especially
when it comes to dramatic content.
Eye of the Storm set to open in Oak Park
The Story of Bayard Rustin, mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will
be brought to life at Open Door Theater
Book by McKinley Johnson Music and Lyrics By McKinley Johnson, David
Taylor & Marshal Titus
CHICAGO, IL – January 15, 2009 – Eye of the
Storm chronicles the story of Bayard
Rustin, a gay, Communist, African-American man amidst the Civil Rights
Movement. This play is set to debut Saturday, February 21st at
7:30 p.m. at the William Hatch Auditorium, 1000 North Ridgeland Avenue,
in Oak Park, IL.
Bayard Rustin was known for teaching Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the
technique
of nonviolent resistance. Bayard was an advocate of not only the
Civil Rights Movement, but also of the Rights of Gay and
Lesbians. This controversial play tells a story of a man who
overcame the stigma associated with being a, Communists, gay,
African-American man who was also engaged in an interracial
relationship during the midst of the Civil Rights Movement.
This edgy masterpiece sheds a new light on the Civil Rights Movement,
while asking many questions to include, why a man could play such a
vital part in history and never be spoken of? Why was Mr. Rustin,
co-founder of The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, banished
from the Civil Rights Movement?
McKinley Johnson, writer of the play, said, “No matter what obstacles
came to Bayard Rustin, he kept going forward and that is a powerful
message to give to our young people and to the world.”
Bayard once told a gay student group."“Our job is not to get those
people who dislike us, to love us. Nor was our aim in the civil rights
movement to get prejudiced white people to love us. Our aim was to try
and create the kind of America, legislatively, morally, and
psychologically, such that even though some whites continued to hate
us, they could not openly manifest that hate. That's our job today: to
control the extent to which people can publicly manifest anti-gay
sentiment."
On February 21, 2009, be prepared to witness the life of unsung heroes
of the Civil Rights Movement. Saturday, February 21st opening
night tickets are $30.00 and included a reception immediately following
the play at Winberie’s, 151 North Oak Park Avenue in Oak Park beginning
at 10:00 p.m. The cast will be on hand along with the Host
Committee Congressman Danny K. Davis, David Pope, President of
the Village of Oak Park, State Senator Don Harmon, and both State
Representatives Karen Yarbrough and Deborah Graham, Lynn Kirsch,
President
of Open Door and Camille Wilson-White, Executive Director of the Oak
Park Arts Council.
Eye of the Storm will run from February 21 until March 15th with
performances
at 8pm on Fridays/Saturdays and 2pm on Sundays.
Tickets are available for purchase at www.opendoorrep.org or by calling (708) 802-1723.
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