CLARKSVILLE, TN – The thrilling story of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad will come to life upon the stage of Clarksville’s oldest professional theatre this month.
Eboné Amos, assistant professor of African American Studies and Theatre and Dance at Austin Peay State University, stars as Harriet Tubman in Freedom Train, a play with music, at the Roxy Regional Theatre, beginning Friday, Oct. 15, at 8 p.m. In keeping with the theatre’s pay-what-you-can opening night tradition, all tickets not pre-sold at the regular price will go on sale at 7:30 p.m. that evening for a $5 minimum donation.
Harriet Tubman was born a slave but, at age 25, she made her perilous escape from a Maryland plantation, leaving her family behind. Pursued by dogs and relentless slave catchers, she followed an escape route laid out by Quakers – secret hiding places in churches, barns, cellars and homes. The escape route that Harriet followed soon became known as the Underground Railroad, and she quickly became one of its most celebrated “conductors.” Up creek beds, through swamps, over hills in the dark of night, on nineteen secret trips, Harriet Tubman guided more than 300 slaves, including her aged parents, to freedom. “I never run my train off the track,” she said, “and I never lost a passenger.”
This inspirational story of self-sacrifice, dedication and survival, laced with warmth and a sense of humor that celebrates the human spirit, features dance, dialogue and songs from the period’s rich musical tradition, including “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” “Steal Away,” “Wade in the Water,” “Good News, the Chariot’s A-comin'” and many others still sung today.
Directed by Mairzy Yost-Rushton with music direction by Tyler Saunders, Freedom Train also features April Sledge as Harriet’s mother Rit, David Ridley as Harriet’s father Ben, Kenneth L. Waters, Jr. as Harriet’s brother David, Alexandria Smith as William, Stephen Shore as Jacob, and David Graham as the Overseer. David Magers will provide pre-show piano music from the period.
Performances run Oct. 15-23 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Oct. 23.
Tickets are $30 (adults) and $15 (10 and under) and may be reserved online at www.roxyregionaltheatre.org, by phone at 931-645-7699, or at the theatre during regular box office hours (9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, and one hour prior to curtain). Facial coverings are required.
The Roxy Regional Theatre is located at 100 Franklin Street in Historic Downtown Clarksville. For more information, visit www.roxyregionaltheatre.org.