Posted by | Ray Cornelius
The life and legacy of openly gay Civil Rights icon Bayard Rustin is coming to the New York City stage this summer in a new theatrical production titled BAYARD: A New Musical. It will be presented for one night only on June 17 at 9:30 PM at Feinstein’s/54 Below.
According to PLAYBILL, the show will focus on Bayard’s contributions to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Civil Rights Movement during the turbulent 1960s. It will also put a spotlight on his organizing genius behind the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom where Dr King delivered his now famous I Have a Dream speech.
The synopsis reads: “In 1963, what would become known as the most iconic march in Civil Rights history was still a gestating idea without the right person to organize it. The leaders of the movement, some reluctantly, some faithfully, chose Bayard Rustin, the great civil rights strategist and openly gay Black man, to organize and get the march on its feet. His ideas would be a boon for the movement and his life would be the obstacle.”
Rustin was also a close friend to A. Philip Randolph and was instrumental in organizing the March on Washington Movement of 1941 as well as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Freedom Rides.
Bayard is created, produced and directed by Richard Allen and Taran Gray and features Deon’te Goodman, Anthony Chatmon II and Scott Redmond.
Click here for tickets and additional information.
Photo Credit: PLAYBILL.COM