Kayla Jackmon said although she loves Ohio State's Theatre department, she has only one complaint: there should be an opportunity for her to participate in a play that identifies more with her culture.
Raymond Caldwell, a graduate student in theatre worked to fill this void, starting the Black Student Theatre Network, whose goal is to promote and present diverse and meaningful black plays.
"It's time that the OSU community see great black theatre," said Jackmon, a sophomore in international studies.
The group's first show, "The Colored Museum," opened yesterday in the Frank Hale Black Cultural Center and will end Sunday. Caldwell is directing the production and Jackmon, along with six other students, will be performing.
"I'm thrilled because I feel like I'm performing something that I would never get a chance to do elsewhere on campus," Jackmon said.
"The Colored Museum," written by George C. Wolfe consists of 11 "exhibits," which serve as scenes that display aspects of black life from slavery to surviving in corporate America. The script was originally composed of monologues, but Caldwell said he decided to add in more scenes to use of the entire ensemble.
"Our first exhibit is like a celebrity slave ship and is called 'Get On Board,'" Caldwell said. "It opens with a flight attendant welcoming the passengers and explaining what's going on, on this trip."
He said the show is important for people to see because many students take their history and put it in a "museum" that they never take the time to examine.
"This generation tends to forget the struggles of the past when they shaped who we are as a people," Caldwell said.
Jackmon said although the play is a comedy, it deals with some serious and controversial issues.
Michelle Golden, a freshman in theatre said "it's hard being a black actor because you get typecast in certain roles and aren't always able to really express yourself."
She said the most difficult part about being involved in the cast is finding the space, time and resources.
"We are all a part of other shows, and it has been so tough trying to rehearse as a group," she said. "And when we finally get together, we seldomly can find a good room to practice in."
Caldwell said he was able get costumes and light fixtures from the theatre department, adding the staff has been pretty supportive.
"We didn't know how people would understand us putting on an all black play, but I think most do see it as an additional theatre outlet for black students and not in opposition," he said.
Caldwell said he hopes the play will help get more minority students interested in theatre.
"OSU's Theatre Department can't really do an African-American play, because there aren't enough black students to cast," he said. "Some black actors were starting to feel a little bit neglected and overlooked, and this play should change that."
The Black Student Theatre Network will be accepting donations at the door for sickle cell research. E-mail osucoloredmuseum@gmail.com to reserve free tickets.
Heather Hope can be reached at hope.27@osu.edu.
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