Although Jeff Stetson penned “The Meeting” in 1987, the relevance of its themes of racial, economic and human equality are blaringly prevalent in today’s society.
That’s why New Horizon Theater, Inc. thought it was the perfect piece to show in celebration of Black History Month.
“We are still encountering the same types of issues that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X battled,” said Eileen J. Morris who is directing the one-act play, which will run through Sunday. “These two men wanted to world to be a better place for all people.”
“The Meeting” tells about an imaginary meeting between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X in 1965 in a Harlem hotel during the Civil Rights Movement. The play was televised on American Playhouse in 1989.
“I have admired the playwright for many, many years and the play captured the essence of King’s stance,” said New York actor Michael Green when asked why he accepted the challenge to the role of Dr. King. “I came of age in the 1907s and I drew on my own experiences and I tried to internalize King. He wrote so much more than ‘I Have a Dream.’
“Both of these men were human, had passion and conviction and they committed their lives for what they believed in,” Green continued. “The country belongs to all of us, not just the government and we all need to understand that we all need to shape the future for all races and creeds.”
Pittsburgh resident Art Terry, who portrays Malcolm X in “The Meeting” agreed with Green.
“When I got the call from Eileen to play someone like Malcolm X, it was very humbling. For me, the goal was to bring his voice to life,” said Terry. “Everything that is happening today was happening then. Malcolm’s words in 1964 were prophetic. We still have Black on Black crime, chaos in the ‘Hood, and Black men have less recognition.”
The production of “The Meeting” is funded in part by grants from Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Program, a partnership of the Pittsburgh Foundation and the Heinz Endowments, Allegheny Regional Asset District, Chris Moore Communications,, Inc., The Heinz Endowments, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts/Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council.
“The meeting” will be held at the Falk School on Pitt’s campus. 4060 Allequippa Street (Oakland). Limited parking is available in front of the Falk building but street parking in available on University Drive. Free garage parking is available at the Veterans Hospital, just pick up a pass at the Falk Building before entering.
Tickets are $15 and $20 with group rates available for groups of 10 or more.
The show will run Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of this week. Show times are Thursday and Friday 7:30 p.m., Saturday there are two performances one at 3 p.m. and the other at 7:30 p.m. The final performance will be held at 7:30 p.m. this Sunday.
To purchase tickets or for more information contact New Horizon Theater, Inc., at (412) 431-0773 or www.newhorizontheater@yahoo.com
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