At the Turnage: Everybody's hero--The Jackie Robinson Story

NEWS & COMMENTARY

At the Turnage: Everybody's hero--The Jackie Robinson Story
February 28

February 10, 2010
"A glimpse into the past, into our souls, with wit and genuine American integrity."--Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts

On February 28th at 3pm, bring the family to the Turnage Theater in Washington, NC, for The Mad River Theater Works' original play with music, Everybody's Hero: The Jackie Robinson Story.

At the start of the summer of 1947, television was brand new, the sound barrier had not been broken, and baseball was a white man's game. By the time the fall arrived, all that had changed. President Truman addressed the nation for the first time on TV, Chuck Yeager flew faster than any man ever had, and Jackie Robinson was chosen as the first ballplayer to break the color barrier in the sport known as America's pastime.

There were plenty of good athletes in the Negro Leagues; some maybe even better than Jackie. But when Branch Rickey decided to add a black person to the Brooklyn Dodgers, he knew that individual had to be special. He had to be strong enough to stand up to the teammates who would ridicule him, the pitchers who would throw at him and the fans who would send him threats. He had to be able to turn the other cheek, to show that he was the bigger man and to prove that he could be everybody's hero. This new play with music by Mad River Theater Works shows the events that shaped Jackie Robinson's character, his struggle to gain acceptance, and the tremendous obstacles he overcame on his way to changing the face of our nation and our national pastime.

Mad River Theater Works is a professional touring ensemble with roots deep in the flat farm country of the Midwest. They create plays that combine music and drama to tell stories about people from the back roads and small towns of America.

Often, Mad River reaches back into history to cast a new light on the personalities and events that have shaped our nation. Their plays explore contemporary issues, believing that theater can make a difference in the life of a community and looking forward to the choices we face in an increasing complex world. In particular, they focus on issues of community breakdown, the importance of individual cultures, racism and tolerance, and the changing role of women.

Over the last 26 years, Mad River Theater Works has developed over 27 original plays that reflect the rich diversity of the rural Midwest with a core of professional artists who are committed to Mad River. Those actors, directors, and musicians have left their professional venues from New York to California and gone to live and work in rural west central Ohio to be a part of the work that Mad River does.

Mad River is under the direction of Jeff Hooper. His experiences as a Founding Director of the Half Moon Theater in London, England, and his work with Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., have led him to create and lead the Mad River Theater Works successfully since 1988.

The Turnage Theater is proud to be able to bring this incredible, culturally relevant production to Eastern North Carolina just in time for little league season. Everybody's Hero is intended for audiences no younger than 7, so please do not bring small children to this event. Tickets for the performance are $20 downstairs and in the mezzanine, $15 in the balcony, and $10 for children up to 15 anywhere in the theater. They are on sale now at the Turnage Theater box office (10-4 Monday through Friday), over the phone at (252) 975-1191, and on line at turnagetheater.com.