• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Ruby! The Story of Ruby Bridges: Play about civil rights-era child hero re-created in new staging

by MSR News Online
January 30, 2013
72
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

 

 

Arts no chaserIt isn’t often a figure from African America history is still around once his or her accomplishments finally are celebrated. A spectacular exception, of course, is President Barack Obama. Not nearly as famous but nonetheless a hallmark is the triumph in 1960 of little six-year-old Ruby Bridges, documented as the first child of color to set foot in a segregated elementary school.

She attended William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans and, in those days, it wasn’t a simple matter of being enrolled and showing up for the first day of class in a pretty dress with your pencils all nicely sharpened as you get ready to learn your reading, writing and arithmetic. White hatred of Black people was even worse than it is today and savagely overt in the South, such that this innocent’s mom and dad, Lucille and Abon Bridges were, by request of the NAACP, taking her life in their hands.

Ruby Bridges, her moment in time beautifully commemorated by Norman Rockwell’s painting “The Problem We All Live With,” prevailed. As she described it to Charlayne Hunter-Gault, “Driving up I could see the crowd, but living in New Orleans, I actually thought it was Mardi Gras. There was a large crowd of people outside of the school. They were throwing things and shouting, and that sort of goes on in New Orleans at Mardi Gras.”

- ADVERTISEMENT -
(l-r) Sisters Essence and Rhapsody Stiggers play the older and younger Ruby Bridges, who integrated a New Orleans elementary school in 1960. Photo courtesy of SteppingStone Theatre
(l-r) Sisters Essence and Rhapsody Stiggers play the older and younger Ruby Bridges, who integrated a New Orleans elementary school in 1960.
Photo courtesy of Stepping Stone Theatre

Former United States Deputy Marshal Charles Burks later stated, “She showed a lot of courage. She never cried. She didn’t whimper. She just marched along like a little soldier, and we’re all very proud of her.”

Young Ruby’s stepping into history has, it goes without saying, pointed and significance in the Twin Cities, where Black children don’t need marshals to get them in the door at school, but obstacles stand more formidably than someone physically blocking the way. The disparity in education is so entrenched that few activists any longer beat what’s become a dead horse.

One does well to appreciate that SteppingStone Theatre of St. Paul determinedly sees to it social issues are germane to its fare for young theater-goers and such grown-ups who care to come along for a performance. Running Feb. 1-24, Christina Ham’s Ruby! The Story of Ruby Bridges with music by Gary Rue is this season’s Black History Month offering at the venerated venue.

Considering a politically correct day, age and climate in which, for 28 days, it behooves White-run institutions, organizations and companies to suddenly develop cultural competence, SteppingStone’s social and artistic integrity have proven, season after season, to be year ’round. At the helm is artistic director Richard Hitchler, who brought the late Deborah Torraine’s original script in. The play was first produced in 2000, but this time around SteppingStone decided it was time for a re-vamp.

Hitchler explains why: “As the old adage says ‘Plays aren’t written, they’re re-written.’ Every writer strives to better their work. Just like every director or actor wishes he or she had done more. [The] same is true with Ruby! The Story of Ruby Bridges. Perfecting the play is the thing. Unfortunately, Deborah Torraine, the original playwright, had passed away.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

“But luckily for us, we had met Christina Ham, whose success with Four Little Girls: Birmingham 1963 and Henry’s Freedom Box lead me to contact her immediately upon the decision to rewrite the play. Christina’s writing style, her ability to speak from a child’s perspective without talking down to children, along with her great sense of character development and storytelling ability made her the logical choice for this project.”

Christina Ham notes, “I started at the beginning, and from there I began to craft a story about a courageous little girl. I had never seen Ms. Torraine’s play nor did I want to read her script.” Ham goes on to say that, in developing her own take on the tale, she was impressed by the interaction between Ruby Bridges and Barbara Henry, the teacher who stepped in when William Frantz Elementary School staff and administration refused to comply with the law and educate the child.

“[They] were forced to hold class for an entire school year by themselves because the White parents decided to pull their children out of the school rather than have them in the same building as [an] African American girl. I am reminded by what Ms. Bridges says, ‘Young children never know about racism at the start. It’s adults who teach it.’”

 

Ruby! The Story of Ruby Bridges will be at SteppingStone Theatre, 55 Victoria St. N. in St. Paul. More information and tickets are available at 651-225-9265 or www.steppingstonetheatre.org.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Dwight Hobbes welcomes reader responses to P.O. Box 50357, Mpls., 55403.

 

To see more stories by Dwight Hobbes click HERE

 

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

This week’s Editorial cartoon, by Ed Fischer

Next Post

SFJAZZ’s new home, Bobby Z’s 2nd benefit, D’Angelo’s new music

MSR News Online

Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.

You Might Also Like

Sickle Cell Awareness Month: Breakthrough treatments on the horizon
Health & Wellness

Sickle Cell Awareness Month: Breakthrough treatments on the horizon

Health department concerned about Stillwater water supply, but says it is safe to drink
Local

Health department concerned about Stillwater water supply, but says it is safe to drink

Wanted: Freelance reporters
Employment

Call for writers

Champagne flows as Twins make the playoffs
Sports

Champagne flows as Twins make the playoffs

MN labor groups rally with auto workers
Local

MN labor groups rally with auto workers

‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’ gives girl groups of ‘50s and ‘60s their due 
Arts & Culture

‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’ gives girl groups of ‘50s and ‘60s their due 

Next Post

SFJAZZ’s new home, Bobby Z’s 2nd benefit, D’Angelo’s new music

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Sep 27
8:00 am-12:45 pm

It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race™

Sep 27
7:30 pm-9:30 pm Recurring

Ayodele Casel Rooted

Sep 30
9:00 am-1:00 pm Recurring

Cars and Caves

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: