Artist presents her 'Rage'

The star of the play calls it a work 'in progress.'
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CHAMPION -- Awele Makeba, an internationally known actor, playwright, storyteller and "teaching artist," will present a one-woman performance of "Rage is Not a 1-Day Thing!" at the Kent Trumbull Theatre. She was originally scheduled to appear last year, but was forced to cancel because of illness. Her upcoming presentation takes place at 8 p.m. Thursday, and is free to the public.
Most people are familiar with Rosa Parks, and the role she played in the 381-day bus boycott in Montgomery, Ala., in 1955-56. What people may not realize is that there were many other heroes who were willing to stand up for their rights, risk being arrested and ultimately move the country toward equality for all its citizens.
Nine months before Rosa Parks, a 15-year-old girl named Claudette Colvin also refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery. Makeba, who has done extensive research to create a historically accurate portrayal of the boycott events, becomes the voice of Colvin, both as a teenager and an older adult, along with 16 other characters, male and female, black and white.
The portrayal is especially timely, coming during the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the civil-rights movement, and the Supreme Court decision that outlawed segregation.
Makeba refers to this work as "in progress." She completed a major rewrite in 2005, and continues to interview new people. She plans another trip to Montgomery this year.
Met at conference
Daniel-Raymond Nadon, director of theater at Kent Trumbull, met Makeba at a conference of the Association for Theater in Higher Education, where she performed for faculty members. "Her plays are excellent history lessons, and highly entertaining," said Nadon. "She interviews people, then takes on their persona."
Nadon is the chairman of the Diversity Council at Kent-Trumbull, which is another reason he was interested in bringing Makeba to the area. "Plus, she is a powerful performer," he added. "She is also fun and emotionally engaging, and she can switch from one character to another instantly."
Makeba has presented her works all over the United States, plus Austria, Russia, Australia, France and Canada. She is working on a new play about Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Chicago boy who was brutally murdered after being accused of whistling at a white woman during a visit to his uncle in the South.
All those who attend "Rage" will receive an information-filled program that includes a list of key people who began and have continued the civil-rights movement, and a list of resources, including music and videos, and suggested reading. There will be an opportunity for questions and dialogue with the audience after the performance.
For more information, call (330) 675-8887.