‘Division: The Jordan/ Trayvon Project’
STAFF FILE PHOTO
WHAT: Valencia College Theater presents the world premiere of “Division: The Trayvon/Jordan Project” beginning Wednesday.
As part of a yearlong project between several Central Florida theater producers, “Division” examines reaction to the deaths of Trayvon Martin in Sanford and Jordan Davis in Jacksonville. Both were young, black men fatally shot by older men not of their race. Martin’s killer, George Zimmerman, was acquitted. Davis’s killer, Michael Dunn, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
The play was created by a Valencia class, using more than 100 hours of interviews to explore the impact of the deaths, which exposed deep racial divisions in American society. Through the words of lawyers, media personalities, political activists, professors, students and others involved in the two tragedies, the play considers stereotypes, guns and the gulf between division and change.
“Division” was written by John DiDonna, chairman of Valencia’s theater department, in collaboration with students William Adkins, Aidan Bohan-Moulton, Carolyn Ducker, Phillip Edwards, Nathan Jones, Anneliese Moon, Elina Moon, Dennis Ramos, Stelson Telfort and Michael Sabbagh.
Photos by Michael Gavin of Jacksonville, along with a series of photos taken during related protests, rallies and trials by Barry Kirsch, will accompany the production. (Pictured is an Orlando Sentinel file photo of a 2012 rally in Sanford.)
WHERE: Valencia College, East Campus Black Box Theater, 701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11-14 and 16; 2 p.m. Feb. 15 TICKETS: $12; $10 seniors, Valencia faculty staff and students CALL: 407-582-2900 ONLINE: Valenciacollege.edu/arts 2 p.m. Sunday, Daytona Playhouse, 100 Jessamine Blvd., Daytona Beach, $5-$16, 386-2552431.
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY: a comedy about a salsa manufacturing company. 8 p.m. FridaysSaturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays (through Feb. 22), Franklin Pearce Jr. Auditorium , 17404 6th St., Montverde, $10, 321-663-2608.
THE COLOR PURPLE: musical adaptationÂof Alice Walker’s novel. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Ruth Henegar Center for the Arts, 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne, $16-$26, 321-723-8698.
THE EXPLORERS CLUB: comedy about a men’s organization threatened by the arrival of a woman. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays (through Feb. 22), Mad Cow Theatre, 54 W. Church St., Orlando, $24.25-$36.75, 407-297-8788.
THE KING & I: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic
cabaret by vocalist Margaret Cross. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27-28, 2 p.m. Feb. 28, Cocoa Village Playhouse, 300 Brevard Ave., Cocoa, $16$24, 321-636-5050.
LUV: Murray Schisgal comedy about love. 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays (opens Feb. 13, through Feb. 22), Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 E. Rollins St., Orlando, $20, 407-447-1700, sideofsaturn.com.
MACHINAL: Sophie Treadwell’s Tony Awardnominated play. 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and select dates (opens Feb. 13, through Feb. 21), Annie Russell Theatre at Rollins College, 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park, $25, 407-646-2145.
MELISSA VAN DER SCHYFF: solo cabaret of jazz standards from the Broadway performer. 8 p.m. Feb. 23, The Abbey, 100 S. Eola Drive, Orlando, $40-$60, 407-704-6261.