How the Script Came About

A MEMo From Michael Edgar Myers How the Script Came About

The contents of this guide are compiled from research, isolated thoughts, historical tours, memories, and work/vacation photo safaris of adulthood that began emerging one autumn afternoon in a spur-of-the-moment to visit a pastor friend at his church in the historic Bronzeville community of Chicago is a few blocks from Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.

Originally named Grand Boulevard, then South Park Way, the thoroughfare was one of the first in the country renamed in King’s honor – in 1968, a few months after his assassination; just weeks before the city hosted the Democratic National Convention National Convention. The decision was compassionate, controversial. And political. All hallmarks of King’s lifetime of work.

My talk with Pastor Michael Neal, himself a King-like activist preacher, including kicking around how our suburban-based ensemble of theater missionaries, Kingdom Impact Theater Ministries, may partner with his Glorious Light Church to creatively proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the city. Pastor Neal even pointed out potential summertime performances that could be done in the shared lot of the facility next door – Martin Luther King High School.

Knowing an hour-drive awaited me, he recommended a restaurant on King Drive that I may enjoy while waiting for rush hour traffic to thin. The stately brownstone homes and painted murals en route merited more than drive-by glances. I parked a few blocks away to take in closer looks on foot, a benefit after lunch because my auto was already full of gas.

Heading home, I drove-walked-photoed when neighborhood artistry beckoned. As the landscape changed to less aesthetic, my mind also wandered, even leaving town. I began imagining Dr. King taking in the sites on his namesake street in Chicago and other cities where I’d travelled.

My walk along King Drive, my travels across the country, my passion for things historical, my memories of April 4, 1968 began melding into a story outline we that became, “Strollin’ Down MLK Street.”

The Gentleman Caller

As Providence plans, not long afterwards, a gentleman named called who was organizing his community’s annual Martin Luther King Day event. We did not meet Demetrius Gibson until driving to his home – two suburbs away. He’d found us on the Internet. Because many of our scripts focused on connecting African-American and Christian histories, he wondered if Vikki and I may be able to create a new piece with Martin Luther King as the subject for a multiethnic audience, like, 15 minutes from our home.

The outline was fleshed into a one-act play providing opportunity to collaborate on stage with Vikki and our musical director, Garlan Garner. For presentation purposes we built on a staging concept we’d found effective in other shows in what we call The Historical KIT. We include multimedia of historical photographs, news headlines, and, when possible, photos from my own travel. Visuals, we’ve found, keep the young people engaged, especially when talking history.

Also when producing history plays – period pieces -- we’ve learned there are people, places and things that modern audiences don’t understand, therefore without context, the most well-crafted dialogue or most potent visuals will not communicate. The same is true when writing scripts about matters of faith. Having a frame of reference for history AND faith are most critical in performance…if for no other reason than for the audience to laugh when humor relief is provided. Laughter is the caffeine of live theater.

Sample of plays linking Biblical scripture with historic events.

Coming to a Street Theater Near You

The Stroll, The Call, The Audience merge in this document designed to capture the multi-media essence of the show. Photos and interactive hyperlinks aligns with the Kingdom Impact Theater mission to Entertain, Educate, Equip and Empower.

All else written came about because of post-show questions and subsequent conversations. Read it at your leisure in preparation to stroll down a Martin Luther King Street near you.

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