Native Notes
Can theatre illuminate social justice conversations? Can theatre open minds and promote positive change in our world? We believe it can.
EbzB Productions explores how history prepares us for discussions about race, class, politics, responsibility, and opportunities to evolve. Our newest production, Native, is another example of relevant historical material that will inspire a conversation for today's world.
Welcome to Native Notes. We hope these updates will help you to use theatre in your community to foster dialogue and bring people together. We'll share examples and information on social justice inspired projects -- cultural and artistic.
Our own social justice inspired project is a new drama called Native, about North Carolina native, Paul Green and Native Son author Richard Wright.
Native details the transformative debate between Paul Green and Richard Wright. The writers were brought together by the Mercury Theatre to adapt Wright’s novel, Native Son for the stage. Green, a white southern professor, and Wright, a self-educated African-American with communist sympathies, forge a deep respect for each other as they explore systemic discrimination of African-Americans. They start their collaboration in Chapel Hill, NC like a “house on fire.” Then in 1941, with World War II on the horizon, the two authors meet again in New York for rewrites. Orson Welles’ Broadway production is already in rehearsal. Differences over a single page of the script create an impasse between Green and Wright. A life-changing dialogue about who has the right to tell the story of race, politics and social class ensues. In spite of their common goal to affect social change, the scintillating revelations dissolve the friendship of the two influential social justice authors.
EbzB's hope is to program this production as part of social justice community events. Our work has been seen internationally, at performing arts centers, colleges, high schools, churches, community festivals, and more. Check out excerpts of the production on our website.
EbzB Productions, Inc. is a professional theatre company striving to develop original, touring theatrical productions to promote integrity, self-discovery and positive transformation of individuals, artists, audiences, and communities.
Thank you for the work you do to promote justice, education and the arts. Please let us know how we may help you.
Serena Ebhardt and David zum Brunnen
~EbzB Productions
www.ebzb.org
*Please share this information with other organizations who might partner with you on social justice programming!
