Mine Eyes Have Seen & War Brides at Ghostlight Ensemble

Ghostlight Ensemble continues its series on historically overlooked female playwrights with two one act plays "Mine Eyes Have Seen" by Alice Dunbar Nelson and "War Brides" by Marion Craig Wentworth that deal with wars and the battles families are forced to fight amongst themselves when someone is called to serve.Written in the final years of World War I, "Mine Eyes Have Seen" is the story of a Black family that fled the South after the fathers lynching. His wife dies of heartbreak leaving their three children to fend for themselves. The children are now young adults, but Lucy, the youngest, and Dan, the oldest, are reliant on their brother, Chris, to support them. When Chris is drafted, he is forced to wrestle with the idea of serving a country that has not served his family. The play is an examination on the nature of patriotism, citizenship, sacrifice and what those mean for people who have been betrayed by their own country.Published in 1915, "War Brides" looks at the role of women in supporting war at the home front, and the expectations that they willingly send their husbands and sons to die in wars. It highlights one womans determination, after her loss of a husband and brothers to war, to no longer become a tool for war. The play also demands that if women are expected to work and sacrifice for war, they should be given full voice in the decisions to go to war.The cast for both shows is: Tai Alexander, Charles Franklin, Marcus John, Sydney Johnson, Ben Lauer, Bryanda Minix, Deidre Staples and Lindsay Williams. The director is Angelisa Gillyard, a Washington, D.C.-based director who has worked with Young Playwrights Theater, Arena Stage, In Series, Studio Theatre, Freshh Theatre Inc, University of Maryland and Montgomery College. The initial broadcast of "Mine Eyes Have Seen" and "War Brides" takes place over Zoom at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 18, and a talkback with the director will take place immediately following. A recording of the performance will be available to stream through May 9.Tickets are pay what you will, with a minimum of $5 per reading and the average donation for such virtual offerings at $15. Tickets are available on our website at GhostlightEnsemble.com/For-Your-Reconsideration. Please make sure to select the production and performance you are interested in receiving a link to view.