Purdue's New Directional Players present spring production
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The New Directional Players from Purdue University's Black Cultural Center will present the play "Driving While Black: In Beverly Hills" from 7-9 p.m. April 7-8 at the Black Cultural Center, 1100 Third St.The play, written by Frank S. Jenkins, is a look at an upper-class African-American family living in Beverly Hills, Calif., in the 1970s and the strain that an incident with the police places on their family, friends and place in society.
The drama centers on Anthony and Celia Nash, who have worked hard all of their lives striving to attain the "American Dream." They have two children, their own business and have moved into their dream home. The day that affected the whole family was when Anthony was pulled over by police officers, who put a gun to his head and made a racist comment.
"The family is reaping the benefits of the nation's racial awareness when racial profiling interrupts their lives," said Ashley Vance, student coordinator at the Black Cultural Center. "It slowly ruptures their dignity and forces them to choose what to do next."
The annual spring production is free and open to the public.
McKenya Dilworth, artist-in-residence at the Black Cultural Center in charge of the production, said the play is sending a message.
"This play is designed to generate social and socioeconomic awareness within the global community, and we hope our Purdue family, as well as the people of greater Lafayette, will attend," Dilworth said.
"Driving While Black: In Beverly Hills" debuted in Los Angeles in 2001 and was directed by Lynn Hamilton, who played Donna Harris in "Sanford and Son." The play is making its Midwest debut with the New Directional Players.
New Directional Players is a student theatrical group that was founded in 1971. The group is committed to presenting plays related to the African-American experience and performs full-length plays as well as one-act plays, poetry and dramatic monologues. The group is one of four performing arts ensembles that are housed within the Black Cultural Center.
Writer: Maggie Morris, (765) 494-2432, maggiemorris@purdue.edu
Source: William Caise, BCC assistant director, (765) 494-4630
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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