Gillioz Theatre hosted a free performance of the Milly Project in collaboration with Springfield’s NAACP Chapter. Over 400 attendees experienced our nation’s collective “racial trauma”, and were left wondering about its impact.
The play’s factual content originated from the archival investigations of Jack Bologna and Connie Yen, a former reporter for the Springfield New Leader and the current Director for the Greene County Archives and Records Center, respectively.The seven female and two male performers portrayed a variety of characters.
The Milly Project’s Purpose
A key phrase expressed multiple times came from the five Caucasian performers: “Separate but equal,” which the four black performers immediately refuted by stating: “Separate and unequal.”
Before the performance, Robinson spoke to The Lance about the performance’s turn-out. “I hope that they feel inspired, and then go home and think about: how not only the play inspires them, but actually, what kind of community that they can create from it?”
“This story has to be told. What a horrible thing not to tell and hold back,” said Adora Snead, Milly Project ensemble actor.
To catch a performance of the Milly Project for yourself follow ‘The Milly Project’ on Facebook to see available times, and show dates of more performances.
The Lance Remixed 