The Arts Council of Mississippi County invites all area leaders—Pastors and Church members, Elected Officials, Civic Club and Service Club members, Educators and Business Leaders—to attend a special workshop.

     The Arts Council is working with The Arkansas Repertory Theatre to present local performances of a play entitled “One Ninth”.  Currently touring, the play is written by an Arkansas playwright and is being presented in ten venues across the state.  It is a professionally staged production of The Arkansas Repertory Theatre of Little Rock.

     “One Ninth” was selected from The Rep’s 2007 “Voices at the River” play development program for emerging African American and Latino playwrights.  It is a powerful exploration of human dignity and racial conflict as seen through the eyes of teenagers.  “One Ninth” features the story of the playwright’s mother, Minnijean Brown Tricky, one of the students known today as The Little Rock Nine who integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957.

     Building upon a backdrop of youthful innocence, courage and anticipation, The Rep’s “One Ninth” production incorporates the sounds and styles of the 1950’s with a timeless investigation into the world of teens confronting societal pressures and struggling to segue into the adult world.  Poignant and hopeful, “One Ninth” offers an insider’s look at the 1957 desegregation crisis and race relations that continue to impact Arkansas and the nation’s evolving population and ongoing cultural tensions.

     The actors touring with the production will conduct a workshop dealing with the historical and social implications of that event, helping workshop participants honestly study and evaluate the significance both then and now for that event in the history of our state.  Open and honest dialogue among participants should help bridge the gap which still exists between the black and white communities in our area.

     The workshop will be presented at The Ritz, 306 W. Main in Blytheville at 1:00 pm on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Participants are also welcome to attend a public performance of the play that evening at 7:00 pm.  Both the workshop and  the evening performance are open to the public and are free.

     Advance tickets for the evening performance are available at The Ritz in Blytheville.  Donations will be accepted at the performances to benefit programming of The Arts Council. 

     For more information, contact The Arts Council of Mississippi County at 870-762-1744, or visit their website: www.artsmissco.com.