‘The Meeting’ at Bowen Park Theater
By Judy Masterson jmasterson@stmedianetwork.com January 17, 2013 6:18PM
David Guy of Chicago plays Malcolm X (left), Kerric Stephens of Milwaukee plays Rashad, Malcolm X’s bodyguard (center) and Cory Connor of Waukegan plays Dr. King.
Updated: March 19, 2013 3:03AM
WAUKEGAN — “The Meeting,” a play about a fictional conversation between Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and civil rights revolutionary Malcolm X will be staged at Bowen Park Theater this weekend, Jan. 18 through Jan. 20.
“It’s a meeting they probably should have had,” said Debrah Neal, president of the North Chicago-based Center for the Arts, which is producing the play.
Both civil rights leaders pushed for equality for African Americans. But while King embraced a multiracial, non-violent strategy, Malcolm X was a proponent of Black nationalism.
“They both wanted to end discrimination, but they had different visions of how to do that,” Neal said. “Malcolm X wanted Negroes to self-educate, to do it for ourselves rather than wait for equal treatment.”
Written by Los Angeles-based playwright Jeff Stetson, the performance features artistic contributions by Neal, including a civil rights slideshow and mock media interview of the two leaders.
Bowen Park Theater is located at 39 Jack Benny Drive in the Bowen Park complex. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for students. For ticket information, call (224) 419-4519 or Neal at (708) 528-3887.
