Hillside stages Emmett Till story: Mississippi Mourning


Actors rehearse "Mississippi Mourning" in the NC A&T production. (Photo by Kevin Wilson)

by Rosalia Preiss
Teen Arts Co-Editor
the Durham VOICE
thedurhamvoice@gmail.com

“Mississippi Mourning: The Emmett Till Story” is an emotional play about Emmett Till, a young boy who was brutally lynched in Mississippi at age 14 in 1955.

The play, written and directed by Kevin Wilson, is about Till’s life leading up to his murder. In case you missed our last issue, Kevin Wilson is a student at North Carolina A&T, and originally wrote the play for his classmates there. The first production was held on January 29 at Harrison Theater at A&T.

Despite insults and threats from some members of the community, Kevin Wilson brought his play to Hillside High School, right here in Durham.

The timing of the production is no accident: it comes right after Black History Month and the 55 year anniversary of Till’s death. Despite the historical significance of the event, many young people have never heard the story of Emmett Till.

Hopefully, Wilson will change that with his play.

There will be two showings of “Mississippi Mourning,” at 3:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 6. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $7 dollars for seniors and children, and $5 dollars per person for groups of ten or more.

If you would like to reserve tickets for the show, please call 919-602-5082 or 919-602-7014, or email imagine2lifeproductions@gmail.com. This is such a meaningful play, and I hope you will be able to attend.