THE RETURN OF PAGE TO STAGE // KATE CAMPBELL AND DR. WAYNE FLYNT

THE RETURN OF PAGE TO STAGE // KATE CAMPBELL AND DR. WAYNE FLYNT

Theatre Tuscaloosa presents Page to Stage: Kate Campbell & Dr. Wayne Flynt Jan. 16 and 17 in the Bean-Brown Theatre on Shelton State’s Martin Campus.
Kate Campbell is a renowned folk singer who is recognized worldwide for her talent in story-telling. Dr. Wayne Flynt is a Pulitzer nominated historian and author of almost a dozen books about the South, centering on Alabama. In a stage performance that Kate describes as a conversation between her, Dr. Flynt, and the audience, stories of the Deep South are brought to life through narrative and music, creating an evolving dialogue about race, religion, and poverty.
The two-day performance marks the return of Theatre Tuscaloosa’s celebration of Alabama artists, Page to Stage.
Executive producer Tina Turley said, “They weave songs into passages from the works of some of the most noted authors of Southern history, including To Kill a Mockingbird, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café, and Salvation on Sand Mountain. It’s really a celebration of the artists of Alabama.”
Kate Campbell grew up in Mississippi, daughter to a southern Baptist preacher. She was influenced by the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s and the folk-rock explosion of the 1970’s. After completing her undergraduate degree at Samford University, where she focused on Southern history and music, Kate attended Auburn University for her graduate degree. It was there that she worked on her thesis about the life of pacifist Reverend Charles R. Bell Jr. She also met and first began to work with Dr. Wayne Flynt while at Auburn.
Dr. Wayne Flynt grew up moving around the South before attending Auburn University, where he eventually became a faculty member. He has written and co-written 11 books, which focus largely on the historical, economic, and social fabric of Alabama. Dr. Flynt is widely recognized for his contributions to the historical field and is the recipient of numerous awards for his work, including the Lillian Smith Book Award, the Clarence Cason Award in nonfiction, and the Alabama Library Association Award for nonfiction.
“It’s a beautiful retelling of Southern American history that becomes a dialogue with the audience,” said Turley. “People can really begin to see these times that came before us and shaped us as a culture and a people.”
Theatre Tuscaloosa’s 2014-15 Season: To Life! is presented in cooperation with Shelton State Community College and is sponsored by JamisonMoneyFarmer PC. Additional sponsors include Afflink, Buffalo Rock, Left Hand Soap Company, Renfroe Outdoor Advertising, Southland Benefit Solutions, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc., Ameriprise Financial, Campbell Guin, and Bank of Tuscaloosa. This program has been made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the City of Tuscaloosa.
Page to Stage: Kate Campbell & Dr. Wayne Flynt will be presented Jan. 16-17 in the Bean-Brown Theatre on Shelton State Community College’s Martin Campus, 9500 Old Greensboro Road. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, January 16, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 17.
Tickets are $22 for adults, $18 for seniors (60+), and $14 for students and children. Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more in advance. For more information about Page to Stage or to purchase tickets, visit theatretusc.com or call 391-2277.