There are times when we take on stories and understand that though they may still resonate with our audience, we have moved beyond that moment in society and we are in a better spot than when the play was written. This is sadly not one of those times. The type of restricted thinking that created the true events that this play was based on in 2010 is not a thing of the past. We continue to see tragic evidence of how dangerous it is to be different. And our young people are the most vulnerable and endangered. I want to tell the young people in this cast (and this audience) that they are safe and seen and valued. I want to tell them that their identities are not content warnings. I want them to know that they are loved for who they are and not despite who they are. I want to tell them that even though there are times when it feels like we move one step forward and two steps back, there are enough of us who are committed to refusing to lose ground and that the only direction we are willing to move is forward. So we will grieve and we will fight and we will win some and we will lose some. But tonight: it’s time to dance.
-Morgan Hicks
Local LGBTQ+ Resources
NWA Equality
The Equality Crew
