The Ballad of Emmett Till
The Ballad of Emmett Till is an ensemble play exploring the final days in the life of Emmett Till, a Chicago teenager who takes a fateful trip to Mississippi in the summer of 1955. Till’s murder and his mother’s subsequent decision to have an open-casket funeral are believed by many to mark the beginning of the modern Civil Rights Movement. The Ballad is a contemporary telling of Emmett’s story, a jazz integration of past and present, the events as seen from the perspective of the youth, himself. It is the story of a quest, Emmett’s pursuit of happiness, of liberty, and ultimately of life.
Some of the themes in this play may be troubling for younger audiences so viewer discretion is advised.
Auditions were held in late March. Tickets may be purchased here!
- “The Barn”: A murder in Mississippi, and the evil hiding in plain sight — https://youtu.be/rXqC9I48SHM
- Emmett Till: Crash Course Black American History #34 — https://youtu.be/4HljsKwpv3g
- Please pay close attention to this video. I believe it gives a very precise account of the happening without confusion. It also give a close-up look to the victims & villains. -Ray
- Roaming History | Emmett Till: Retracing the lynching that fueled civil rights movement — https://youtu.be/oGUwYzgGamU
- Emmett Till Memory Project: Bryant’s Grocery & Meat Market — https://tillapp.emmett-till.org/items/show/1
- Emmett Till (via Wikipedia, please fact-check for yourself) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmett_Till
- Emmett Till (via Google) — https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=emmett%20till
- Southside Chicago “What’s Da Dilla” Episode 6: The Home of Emmett Till (via Instagram) — https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMbUApeAwCp/?igsh=MWpja29lNzV3ODg1OA==
Director: Ray Hatch
EMMETT “BO” TILL — a boisterous, happy-go-lucky 14-year-old from Chicago, Illinois; an angel.
MAMIE TILL-BRADLEY — 33, Emmett’s mother, who lives and works in Chicago.
MAMOO — Emmett’s fair-skinned grandmother, Mamie’s mother.
WHEELER PARKER — 16, Emmett’s cousin and best friend from Argo, Illinois.
MOSE WRIGHT — Emmett’s great uncle, 64, Mississippi sharecropper.
CURTIS JONES — 14, Emmett’s second cousin from Argo.
HELUISE WOODS — 15, Emmett’s friend from Argo.
SIMEON “SIMMY” WRIGHT — 12, Mose’s youngest and favorite son.
MAURICE WRIGHT — 16, Mose’s middle son.
LIZABETH “AUNTY LIZ” WRIGHT — Mose’s wife, Mamoo’s sister.
RUTHIE MAY CRAWFORD — 16, a neighbor of the Wrights.
JOHNNY B. WASHINGTON — an unemployed farm laborer.
CAROLINE BRYANT — 21, a storekeeper and wife, former beauty queen.
ROY BRYANT — 24, Caroline’s husband, a storekeeper and truck driver.
J.W. “BIG” MILAM — 36, Roy’s half-brother, storekeeper.
H.L. LOGGINS — field hand and mechanic, one of “Milam’s boys.”
While the actor who plays Emmett has a singular role, the other five actors in the ensemble will play varied roles evoking his memories:
WOMAN 1 plays Miss Mamie, Simmy, Caroline
WOMAN 2 plays Mamoo, Heluise, Aunty Liz
MAN 1 plays Uncle Mose, Johnny B., H.L. Loggins
MAN 2 plays Wheeler, Bo 2, Roy Bryant
MAN 3 plays Curtis, Bo 3, Maurice, Ruthie May, J.W.
The ensemble also creates various group tableaus: people on the train, dancers in the juke, random folk in Chicago and Mississippi.
Program will be available here soon!
OVT is dedicated to reaching out into our community to help wherever possible. Each show the cast and crew selects an organization to focus on – we will announce this soon. Thank you for joining OVT in supporting a worthy cause!