Writers’ Theatre Presents The MLK Project: The Fight for Civil Rights 1/16

Writers' Theatre announces the 6th annual tour of The MLK Project: The Fight for Civil Rights, written by Yolanda Androzzo, directed by Jimmy McDermott and featuring Melanie Brezill. The production opens with a free public performance at the Chicago History Museum on the Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday, January 16, 2012 at 11am. The production will tour to area schools January 17-February 24, 2012.

Weaving together poetry, hip-hop and history, The MLK Project: The Fight for Civil Rights is a one-woman show that follows Alaya (Melanie Brezill), a student in search of truth and self-discovery through researching the American Civil Rights Movement.

Seen by over 30,000 students, this cross-cultural, multi-media performance interweaves personal interviews of Chicago-based Civil Rights activists, featuring both the celebrated and unsung heroes of the Movement such as Reverend Samuel "Billy" Kyles, Dr. Margaret Taylor Goss Burroughs founder of the DuSable Museum of African American History, Reverend Jesse Jackson and Puerto Rican poet and activist David Hernandez, among others.

This year, Writers' Theatre and Hazelden Foundation's Chicago Bullying Prevention Initiative have partnered to create lesson plans for students that will address the themes of the play and build on the anti-bullying curriculum. A continuing partnership with Communities In Schools of Chicago will allow the production to be presented at select schools free of charge. A growing partnership with the Chicago Juvenile Temporary Detention Center will include Writers' Theatre poetry and performance teaching residencies with Center youth following the performance. All performances include a post show discussion and teacher guides for further study.

Title: The MLK Project: The Fight for Civil Rights
By: Yolanda Androzzo
Directed by: Jimmy McDermott
Featuring: Melanie Brezill (Alaya)
Public performance: January 16, 2012 at 11am
Location: Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago
Prices: Free and includes complimentary Museum admission

Interested schools can get more information or book a performance by contacting Education Liaison Nicole Ripley at 847-242-6007 or nripley@writerstheatre.org.

The 2012 tour of The MLK Project is made possible in part by support from
the Dr. Scholl Foundation, The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust, and Target.
Additional Writers' Theatre's Education Programs include:

Write On! a flexible artist-in-residence program customized for each school and group of students. Writers' Theatre has provided after-school drama programs, theatre units that relate to classroom subjects, and poetry and writing classes in collaboration with CPS schools and teachers.

The Novel Series Study Plan, (NSSP) a cutting-edge arts and literature curriculum where students study a book through writing exercises, discussion prompts and vocabulary lessons in addition to working with a Writers' Theatre Teaching Artist to explore the book using theatre performance. Students use their bodies and voices to make new and exciting connections to the text.

All of Writers' Theatre's education programs are aligned with state and national standards. To learn more visit www.writerstheatre.org/education.

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