Civil Rights-Themed 'Freedom High' to Debut in Queens

Queens College will present the first performances of Adam Kraar's Freedom High, a new play about the complexities of racism, from May 9th  - 20th at Queens College and Queens Theatre in the Park. The production will highlight New York City's connection to the Civil Rights Movement. Susan Einhorn directs.

"Inspired by actual events, Freedom High takes place in June 1964, when three Civil Rights workers (Andrew Goodman, a 20-year-old theatre student at Queens College among them), were murdered by white racists in Mississippi. The play focuses on a week when black Civil Rights veterans trained hundreds of white volunteers to register blacks in Mississippi to vote - a week that was transformed by news of the disappearance of the three Civil Rights workers," state press materials.

"The play tackles subject matter that is highly relevant today. Two of the Democratic Party's leading presidential candidates recently visited the one of the centers of the Civil Right Movement, tying their campaigns to the cause's unfinished work."

Adam Kraar's plays include New World Rhapsody (Manhattan Theatre Club commission); The Spirit House (finalist, Humana Festival; premiered at Performance Network); and The Princess Of President Street (Illinois Theatre Center).  His plays have been produced and/or developed by Primary Stages, N.Y. Stage and Film, Public Theatre, Ensemble Studio, and Theatreworks U.S.A.  He earned an M.F.A. from Columbia University, and was awarded playwriting fellowships from the William Inge Center for the Arts and Manhattan Theatre Club. 

Freedom High's cast features Farin Schlussel, Marvin Duverne, Joel Bernard, Marsha Reid, Ugo Eze, Elyse Price, Nick Radu, Jaysmar Bastien, Dominick Magnotta, Matthew Wood, Sonia Martins, Matthew Pimble, Jenna Guercio, Nick Riznyk, Monica Barczak, and Amanda Shafran.

Set design is by Meghan E. Healey, Lighting design is by Anjeanette Stokes, Costumes are by Alexandra Ruiz.

Performances of Freedom High at Queens College's Little Theatre are on May 9 at 7 PM, May 10 at 7 PM, May 11 at 8 PM, May 12 at 2 PM & 8 PM, and May 13 at 3 PM. Performances will also be held at Queens Theatre in the Park on May 19 at 8 PM and May 20 at 3 PM.

Tickets are $14 ($12 for senior citizens or with a Queens College ID) and can be purchased by calling the Queens College Theatre Box Office at 718-793-8080. Tickets are also on sale at the door one hour before the start of all performances.  For tickets and info on Queens Theatre in the Park performances, call (718) 760-0064.

The Little Theatre is located on the Queens College campus, at the corner of Kissena Blvd. and the LIE (exit 24) in Flushing, part of the Kupferberg Center for the Arts.