The year is 1960. A shy, smart 6-year-old named Ruby Bridges becomes the first African American student to attend a formerly whites-only grade school in New Orleans.
Escorted to class by U.S. Marshals through a hostile segregationist mob, the youngster and her family are instantly cast into the national spotlight as symbols of America’s ongoing efforts to ensure equality and justice for all, starting with its public schools.
Prime Stage Theatre’s presentation of Look Forward: The Ruby Bridges Story tells Bridges’ remarkable journey of resilience and eventual triumph.
“Ruby Bridges in the American psyche is a symbol, but she’s also a person. She’s a 6-year-old girl, an actual human with a family, and I think the stories of people like Ruby need to be told and need to be remembered as part of our shared human experience.” – Joylette Portlock portraying Lucille Bridges, Ruby’s mother
Saniya Lavelle portrays Ruby. Lavelle attends Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA). A passionate writer, actor, dancer and singer, she aspires to become both an author and an actress. Saniya is a proud member of the Alumni Theater Company (ATC) and has portrayed Zonia Loomis in Pittsburgh Playwright Theatre Company’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. In 2024, she took on the roles of Young Nettie and Young Olivia in Pittsburgh CLO’s production of The Color Purple.
Directed by Linda Haston, Look Forward: The Ruby Bridges Story was written in 2021 by Natalia Temesgen, an associate professor of Creative Writing at Columbus State University and a writer/producer for the TV series Reasonable Doubt (Hulu), Julia (HBO Max) and Dear White People (Netflix).
The 10-member cast includes John Dolphin, Sarah Kobuck, Daniel LaMond, Richard McBride, Eric Molina, Stacia Paglieri, Joylette Portlock, DeVaughn Robinson, Savannah Wiles, and Saniya Lavelle as Ruby Bridges.
Look Forward: The Ruby Bridges Story fits squarely with Prime Stage Theatre’s 2024-2025 season theme of Strength, Voices and Hope, says Prime Stage Theatre artistic director Dr. Wayne Brinda. “People may know the general story of Ruby Bridges,” he notes, “but seeing this pivotal historical moment portrayed onstage shows the true heroism of her actions.”
Opening Night January 18th, the post-show discussion features renowned Louisiana storyteller Robin Kitson sharing the impact of her own life-changing childhood encounter with Ruby Bridges. Ms. Kitson was a white elementary student standing in the crowd that momentous first day when Ruby Bridges was escorted by U.S. Marshals.
Since its founding in 1996, Prime Stage Theatre has presented over 100 plays that introduce student and family audiences to classic and contemporary works of world literature.
TICKETS AND DETAILS
Prime Stages presentation of Look Forward: The Ruby Bridges Story running for seven shows January 17 – 26, 2025 at New Hazlett Theater
Tickets (adult $39, artist/educator $24, student $19) are available by calling (412) 320-4610 or by reserving online at https://tinyurl.com/mwm432kx.
Categories: Arts and Ideas, Show Previews
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