Alabama Story, a timely show about books and censorship, premiers during Banned Books Week
illi News/10275886

CHICAGO - illiNews -- Ghostlight Ensemble is pleased to announce the cast of Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones– the company's first mainstage show since the global COVID-19 Pandemic brought arts organizations and productions around the world to a halt in 2020.

"This cast is truly fantastic, and I cannot wait to see the excellent performances that are sure to elevate an already meaty, timely script," Director Holly Robison said.

The cast includes two Ensemble Members, Co-Artistic Director Justin Broom as Thomas Franklin and Maria Burnham as Emily Wheelock Reed. Rounding out the cast is Scott Olson as Garth Williams, Tom Goodwin as Sen. E.W. Higgins, Khnemu Menu-Ra as Joshua Moore and Haley Basil as Lily Whitfield. Understudies include Adrian Campbell, Mary Jordan, Allison McCorkle and Derek Preston Ray.

Alabama Story is a fictional play based on very real events that took place in 1950s Alabama when a children's book called The Rabbits' Wedding by illustrator Garth Williams was released. The book tells of two little rabbits – one white, one black – who decide to get married. Though not intended to be political, the book caused a firestorm in the Segregationist South with calls to ban and even burn the book.

More on illi News

• 'Poets and Writers' radio host Henry McCarthy interviews award-winning author Charlene Wexler
• World-Renowned Body Language Expert Mark Bowden Headlines INSPIRE Northwest 2026 in Wenatchee, WA
• ASN Software Introduces New California CARS Act Dealer Updates
• USA Air Management Marks 30 Years of Air Duct Cleaning in NJ Urges Homeowners to Schedule Dryer Vent Cleaning Before Heating Season
• Dr. Jay Johannigman Returns to Cincinnati Following 46 Years of Military Service

Alabama Story is a drama about censorship, book banning and Civil Rights set within the framework of 1950s racial tensions that parallels the issues facing America today as book bans and book challenges overwhelm libraries and schools across the nation.

Ghostlight will open Alabama Story during Banned Books Week on Let Freedom Read Day, Saturday, September 28. Let Freedom Read Day is a day of action with a call for everyone who stands against book banning to take at least one action to help defend books from censorship. Ghostlight is proud to stand up for the library staff, educators, writers, publishers and booksellers who make books available to all. Learn more about Banned Books week (September 22-28) and Let Freedom Read Day at https://bannedbooksweek.org/let-freedom-read-day.

Alabama Story will take place at two site-specific, book-centric locations: After-Words Bookstore (23 E. Illinois St., Chicago) and Haymarket Books at Haymarket House (800 W Buena Ave, Chicago). There is a preview performance on Friday, September 27 at After-Words Bookstore, followed by performances on Sept. 28-29 and Oct. 4-6, 2024. Performances at Haymarket Books are Oct. 11-13 and Oct. 18-20. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2:30 p.m. on Sundays.

More on illi News

• Mud Morganfield Bares His Soul on 7" Single, 'Deep Gospel'
• Allstream Energy Partners, SEO Experts in Oil and Gas, Awarded Gas Processing OEM Agreement
• Growth Story Expands: $54.6M Contract, $30M Revenue Run Rate, 800+ Customers, 50+ Patents & New AI Cybersecurity Products for Cycurion, Inc $CYCU
• Sky Quarry Restarts Nevada's Only Crude Oil Refinery — A Major New Chapter Begins in This Highly Lucrative sector for N A S D A Q: SKYQ
• Nutriband Inc. (N A S D A Q: NTRB) Breaks Into Uncharted Territory: 52-Week High Eclipsed as Shares Surge 22% —AVERSA™ Puts Investors on High Alert

Tickets are pay-what-you-will, with an average donation of $25, and are available at https://ghostlightensembletheatreco.thundertix.com/. More information about the show can be found at https://www.ghostlightensemble.com/alabama-story.