PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia musician Karen Smith is teaming up with director Stephen Gardner to present her play, “Legacy, The Thoughts of Boys that Became Men” in light of Black History Month.
Smith says Gardner has a personal connection to the story.
“Legacy was an idea from Caleef Hayes and his brother Stephen Gardner and they wanted to create a piece around children and learning about their past,” she said.
In the play, a young boy is having trouble both at home and school. He is visited by the spirits of black history icons such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., who share the stories of their lives with him.
Smith says the play is a way to educate youth in an interesting way.
“This group is all about community artists and youth, bringing our stories to life through their voices,” she said.
The play will only be on Saturday, February 25th, at The Urban Art Gallery. The shows are at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m.
The shows will also be free to the public.
Aside from this play, the Art Gallery holds shows once a month, displaying artwork from local artists. Gallery spokespersons say the goal is to “help local artists by creating a platform for them to showcase their work and reach a new audience.”