VCU and UR to host theatrical performance in celebration of the 25th annual Living the Dream Program

By Malorie Burkett

In celebration of the 25th annual Living the Dream Program and the life of Martin Luther King Jr., Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Richmond will host two separate performances of "The Meeting," a play by Jeff Stetson that imagines for viewers what a clandestine encounter between King and Malcolm X might have been like.

Presented by the Kuumba Players, the play examines both the public and the private lives of the two charismatic leaders of the Black freedom movement, who met only once briefly at a press conference. The envisioned confrontation in the play between King, a Baptist minister and believer in non-violent protest and Malcolm, a Muslim and advocate of self-defense by any means, takes place February 1965 in a shabby Harlem hotel room.

"Since most young people are blissfully unaware of the sacrifices and hardships that these courageous men made and faced, I hope that the audience will gain some insight to their lives and some appreciation of the contributions they made to the American way of life," said Wesley Taylor, a member of the Kuumba Players and cast member from the play.

"The Meeting" covers the clash of tactics and ideas for the advancement of freedom, but also the humanity of two men, both loving fathers and husbands, willing to lay down their lives for what they knew to be right.

Playwright, Jeff Stetson, is director of public affairs and university relations for the 19-campus California State University system. His first play, "The Meeting" has received numerous honors, some of which include the Louis B. Mayer Award and eight 1987 NAACP Theatre Image Awards, including best play and best writer. His other works include poetry as well as written tributes to Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday.

Sponsored by VCU's Office of Community Programs and UR's Office of Student Activities, the play is a part of the Richmond metropolitan area's annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. The Richmond city-wide event is sponsored by Living the Dream, Inc., and involves schools, organizations and businesses in the Richmond area that offer programs which reinforce King's ideals and principles of justice, equality and self-empowerment.

"The Meeting" will take place at VCU on Wednesday Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. in the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave. It will be repeated on Thursday Jan. 23 at UR in the Tyler Haynes Commons, at 7 p.m. Signs will be posted throughout the UR campus to assist individuals in locating the theater. For more information call 828-8824 for VCU's event or 289-8505 for UR.