Bronzeville Arts Ensemble Premieres Play By Local Author Michelle Dobbs

Bronzeville Arts Ensemble will premier Just A Conversation Over Chicken And Dumplings by local author Michelle Dobbs, April 5-7 at the Marcus Center's Wilson Theater in Vogel Hall.

Directed by Bronzeville's Producing Artistic Director Sheri Williams Pannell, the play is based on local author and playwright Michelle Dobb's novel The Rock Island Line: Conversations Over Chicken And Dumplings. Dobbs details a secret about her family's history hidden in oil paintings by her uncle and artist, James Moore, Jr. after his death. When Lilly Moore, a descendant of 19th century Old Settlers of Rock Island, sorts through her deployed brother's home, she discovers that he has left the secrets of their family in plain sight - captured in the paintings he has left behind. Nothing is as it seems as she grows through important lessons of love, loss, changing times and a new frontier through conversations over chicken and dumplings.

Author Michelle Dobbs adds, "I'm hoping scenes in the life of one family creates a little space for audiences to consider what story they're making for future generations to tell. I want this piece to remind them to have important conversations right now, and all the time. I'm grateful that Bronzeville Arts Ensemble decided to tell this story."

Just A Conversation Over Chicken And Dumplings features local actors Samantha Montgomery, Tosha Freeman, Steven Hunter, Noah Gober, Mary Jo Perez, young performers - Sherell Butts, and Lucia Santana. Director Sheri Williams Pannell asks audiences to "free yourself, heal yourself, and pass on your legacy" through this intimate production. The play is produced by Black Arts MKE.

Bronzeville Arts Ensemble's premier of Just A Conversation Over Chicken And Dumplings is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support provided by the Milwaukee Cultural Artistic & Musical Programming Advisory Council, an Anonymous Gift, and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation High Point Fund.

Just A Conversation Over Chicken And Dumplings opens Friday, April 5th through Sunday, April 7th (matinee). Tickets are on sale and can be purchased in person at the Marcus Center Box Office at 929 North Water Street, by phone at 414-273-7206, or online via Tickermaster.com or visit https://www.marcuscenter.org/show/just-conversation-over-chicken-and-dumplings.