Eastern's final theatre program of year explores CT tobacco industry in time of Martin Luther King Jr.
'Cultivating Dignity' opens online on May 1
Willimantic, CT (04/28/2021) — The Theatre Program at Eastern Connecticut State University will present "Cultivating Dignity," its final show of the 2020-21 academic year, starting May 1. As with all of this year's theatre productions, the performance is a film adaptation available free of charge via online streaming. For on-demand access, viewers must register at https://www.easternct.edu/theatre/productions/cultivating-dignity.html.
"Cultivating Dignity" explores the lives of tobacco workers in Connecticut during the time when young Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. worked at Cullman Brothers farm. The show dives into issues of labor, migration, race and cultural identity.
"Cultivating Dignity" is a newly devised work by Theatre Professors Alycia Bright Holland and Kristen Morgan. The script was developed by Darcy Parker Bruce in collaboration with Eastern students, who performed archival research and gathered oral histories. Originally envisioned as a live, mainstage production, "Cultivating Dignity" was adapted into a film with the help of faculty member and filmmaker Brian Day.
A public film screening of "Cultivating Dignity" will premiere on May 1 and be available subsequently for online viewing. There are also plans to create a small touring project to visit K-12 schools across Connecticut to engage young audiences. To register for the on-demand streaming performance, visit https://www.easternct.edu/theatre/productions/cultivating-dignity.html.
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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving more than 4,000 students annually at its Willimantic campus and satellite locations. In addition to attracting students from 162 of Connecticut's 169 towns, Eastern also draws students from 33 other states and 20 countries. A residential campus offering 40 majors and 60 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal art foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked as the #1 public regional university in New England by U.S. News and World Report in its 2021 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 11 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.
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