Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom
This trip was presented as part of our 2021-2022 season and is not currently available.
Suggested for grades 6-12
Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom is a musical filled with traditional and original Gospel and Freedom songs that tells the moving and inspiring true story of Lynda Blackmon, the youngest person to walk all the way from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama on the Voting Rights March in 1965. Jailed nine times before the march and badly beaten on Bloody Sunday, Lynda and her neighbors fought alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to secure the right to vote for African Americans.
Ally Sheedy (The Breakfast Club, High Art, Psych), adapted the award-winning memoir by Lynda Blackmon Lowery (Dial Press, 2016) for the stage. Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom is directed by Fracaswell Hyman and the music director is Joshuah Brian Campbell. Produced by Lynda Blackmon Lowery, Miranda Barry, Amy Sprecher, Voza Rivers, and the New Heritage Theatre Group.
They are pleased to offer this streaming video version of the acclaimed stage musical based upon the award-winning memoir by Lowery, as told to Elspeth Leacock and Susan Buckley.
Your trip includes:
- Access to the pre-recorded video performance (available in 3 parts, approx. 15 – 20 mins each)
- Pre-recorded documentary-style interview with Civil Rights activist and author of the book upon which the show is based, Lynda Blackmon Lowery, along with Dr. Tara White, Professor of History at the George Wallace Community College in Selma, Alabama
- Teacher’s guide
NYS Learning Standards: Social Studies 1,5; The Arts 3,4; ELA 2,3; Music 9
Common Core Standards: ELA-Literacy: RH. 6-8.; ELA: 1,2,3,4,8
National Core Arts Standards: Responding; Connecting
Learning Connections: Music, Theatre, Social Studies, Cultural Connection, Diversity Awareness, Social-Emotional Learning