‘Shreveport Rising’ stage play coming to The Strand Theatre

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - They’re calling it a once in a lifetime production for Shreveport.

Shreveport Rising: “We’ve Come This Far by Faith” is a stage play happening Saturday, Feb. 19. It tells the story of civil rights in Shreveport. Organizers have been working on the written production for about 10 years now. They have been rehearsing since November of 2021.

The play tells the story of civil rights greats like the late Dr. Harry Blake of Mt. Canaan Baptist Church, the late C.O. Simpkins, Shreveport’s first Black dentist, and Mamie Love Wallace, who participated in countless registration drives and was there when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at at the Old Galilee Baptist Church.

The play will include dancing and singing. One of the songs is “We’ve Come This Far By Faith,” an old hymn which also serves at the title of the play. More than 60 people are involved in the play, including the Orchesis Dance Company from Grambling State University.

Play director and writer, Vincent Williams and David Barr, joined KSLA’s Domonique Benn live Tuesday morning (Feb. 15) to discuss the production.

LIVE INTERVIEW

The play will be held at The Strand Theatre (619 Louisiana Ave.) in Shreveport. Tickets are between $25 and $25 each.

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