Daddy (Bear Bellinger) deals with an unwelcoming racist (Ian Paul Custer) while driving the Watson family’s “Brown Bomber” through the Deep South in The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 | Photo credit: Charles Osgood.
The racial divide in America has always been around, and although there’s a heightened sense of racial discrimination happening in our nation right now, we’ve come a long way.
The World-Premiere play The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, based on the Newbery Medal-winning a book by Christopher Paul Curtis, brought me to a journey back to the days when freedom as a person of color was a luxury. Most especially in the South.
“Meet the Watsons, an African-American family of five, who live in Flint, Michigan. When oldest son Byron starts getting into trouble, it’s decided he needs to be sent to Birmingham, Alabama to live with his grandma to get set straight. So the whole family – Mama, Daddy, Byron, Kenny, and Joetta – sets out on a cross-country journey in the family car, the “Brown Bomber.” When they make it to Birmingham, they find more than they bargained for – a city simmering with tension during the height of the civil rights movement. This powerful story reminds us that during times of crisis, hope reveals itself in the forms of family, friendships, learning, growing and evolving.”
As I began to meet the characters, I slowly got sucked into the family setting; I felt a particular attachment to the mom. The uneasiness she had for her older child and feeling fearful about going through the road trip. I believe that every person who watches will discover themselves in one of the characters. I know I did. I felt surges of emotion throughout the show. It made me happy seeing the family dance to their favorite music, it made me afraid when a bigot approached the family, and then I wept during the church bombing.
Bring your family and friends to this beautiful show! The show is running until April 28th.
Daddy (Bear Bellinger) and sons Byron (Stephen Allen Jr., left) and Kenny (Nelson Simmons) shave before a family road trip through the Deep South in The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, based on the Newbery Medal—winning book by Christopher Paul Curtis, March 26-April 28, 2019 at Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station, 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. Also pictured: Nelson Simmons (front passenger seat) as Kenny, Sharriese Hamilton (in back) as Mama and Stephen Allen Jr. as Byron. Tickets and information: chicagochildrenstheatre.org or (312) 374-8835. Photo credit: Charles Osgood.
Bear Bellinger plays Daddy, who drives the Watson family’s “Brown Bomber” into the Deep South in The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, based on the Newbery Medal—winning book by Christopher Paul Curtis, March 26-April 28, 2019 at Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station, 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. Tickets and information: chicagochildrenstheatre.org or (312) 374-8835. Photo credit: Charles Osgood.
Daddy (Bear Bellinger) deals with an unwelcoming racist (Ian Paul Custer) while driving the Watson family’s “Brown Bomber” through the Deep South in The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, based on the Newbery Medal—winning book by Christopher Paul Curtis, March 26-April 28, 2019 at Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station, 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. Also pictured: Nelson Simmons (front passenger seat) as Kenny, Sharriese Hamilton (in back) as Mama and Stephen Allen Jr. as Byron. Tickets and information: chicagochildrenstheatre.org or (312) 374-8835. Photo credit: Charles Osgood.
Nelson Simmons plays Kenny in The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, based on the Newbery Medal—winning book by Christopher Paul Curtis, March 26-April 28, 2019 at Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station, 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. Tickets and information: chicagochildrenstheatre.org or (312) 374-8835. Photo credit: Charles Osgood. Note: Nelson shares the role of Kenny, rotating performances with Jeremiah Ruwe.
Nelson Simmons plays Kenny and Deanna Reed-Foster is Grandma Sands in The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, based on the Newbery Medal—winning book by Christopher Paul Curtis, March 26-April 28, 2019 at Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station, 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. Tickets and information: chicagochildrenstheatre.org or (312) 374-8835. Photo credit: Charles Osgood. Note: Nelson shares the role of Kenny, rotating performances with Jeremiah Ruwe.
