Details
Seattle Children’s Theatre is deeply honored to bring a story about Civil Rights and professional baseball legend Jackie Robinson to stage with Steven Dietz’s adaptation of the Dan Gutman book, Jackie & Me, directed by Sheila Daniels.
“True heroes are hard to come by in this world, and one with the quiet strength and dignity of Jackie Robinson should never be forgotten,” says SCT Artistic Director Linda Hartzell. “In this time-travel fantasy, acclaimed playwright Steven Dietz takes us to the segregated world of the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers clubhouse. We get to see the courage it took this one man to help change the landscape of our nation. I hope it inspires and encourages every one of us to stand up for what we believe in and do the right thing, even when just playing a game.”
Young Joey Stoshack has the special power to travel through time by holding a baseball card and concentrating really hard. When he’s given an assignment to write a paper on Jackie Robinson, it only makes sense to head back to 1947 and meet the famous baseball player. During his journey, Joey experiences what it’s like to be African-American during a time of segregation. He witnesses Jackie’s dedication and determination even when people on his own team are against him. The book, one in Gutman’s popular “Baseball Card Adventure” books, is the second adapted by Dietz for SCT.
“After Dan Gutman saw my adaptation of his book, Honus & Me, he was kind enough to offer me my choice of his other books to adapt,” says Dietz. “Since Jackie Robinson had long been a hero around my house, Jackie & Me was an obvious choice – and a daunting one. Robinson is an immensely important historical figure – situated at the crossroads of sport, culture, politics and race – but he was also a man playing a game. A game that raised many of us. A game that connects us with our fathers, and grandfathers. A game that puts history at our fingertips.”
Location
Charlotte Martin Theatre
Age Recommendation
For Ages 8+
Performances
This production has past.
“true heroes are hard to come by in this world”
Linda Hartzell (on Jackie Robinson)