RUBY!: THE STORY OF RUBY BRIDGES
“The six-year-old me was about to knock down some of the strongest doors that even Louisiana’s court system couldn’t keep closed to me.”
Full-Length Theater for Young Audiences Musical, no Intermission
6-10B, 13-17G, 1W
Book & Lyrics by Christina Ham
Music & Lyrics by Gary Rue
This Play is Published
Please contact the publisher to purchase a copy
1-800-448-7469
www.dramaticpublishing.com
When Ruby Bridges was six-years-old the Civil Rights movement came hammering at her door making her the first African-American child to attend an all-white elementary school in the South at the tender age of six-years-old.
On the heels of Brown versus Board of Education schools were ordered to integrate with "all deliberate speed". In 1960, Ruby became one of only six African-American children in New Orleans to integrate all-white schools in the city. While Ruby integrated William Frantz Elementary School the other five students went to other schools throughout the city that left Ruby attending her school alone. When the white families learned that Ruby would be integrating William Frantz they pulled their children from its classrooms leaving Ruby and her first grade teacher, Mrs. Henry, alone in the classroom for the entire school year. Undaunted, Mrs. Henry and Ruby formed a tight bond with one another while protestors jeered and threatened Ruby's life outside the school every day. This decision also placed undue pressure on her family — almost tearing them apart. They watched helplessly while federal marshals escorted young Ruby to school everyday.
With seven brand new songs inspired by the Shirelles, Sam Cooke, and Smokey Robinson, this play explores a little girl's unbeatable courage in the face of adversity as she helped to lead a Civil Rights movement up the front steps and into the classrooms of her elementary school.
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OF NOTE
Recipient of Minnesota State Arts Board Cultural Community Partnership Grant in 2012
Commissioned by SteppingStone Theatre in 2011
WORLD PREMIERE
February 2013
SteppingStone Theatre, St. Paul MN
directed by Richard Hitchler