The Office of Multicultural Enrichment and Black Students Association will present “Ruth,” the 14th annual Black History production, March 1-2 at 7:30 p.m. in Cullen Auditorium.
The play was written by ACU Alum, Vincson Green (’12), theatre major living in Abilene. Vince wrote a skeleton of the play in Dr. Adam Hester’s play writing class his senior year.
“I have a desire to write about characters who have authentic relationships with God,” said Green. “I want to tell stories that usher people into an experience with characters who have different perspectives of God based on their experiences with Him.”
Green wrote his story about a female character who is perceived in many different ways by the other characters in the play.
“[The characters] relationships change, their perspectives on God change,” he said. “They themselves also go through a process of transformation all because of one choice that this female figure makes.”
Elyse Bryant, freshman Nursing major from Desoto, will play Ruth, the main character of the play.
Vincson Green, writer and co-director of Ruth, the 2013 Black History Production, coaches one of the actresses during a dress rehearsal. Green recently graduated from the ACU theatre department. (Optimist photo by Adrian Patenaude)
“‘Ruth’ is not your typical play,” Bryant said. “There is a story behind every word, every action and every prop. I cannot wait to show the ACU community what we, Black Students Association, are capable of.  I pray and hope that the ACU community will not only gain a better understanding of people of different ethnicities and different backgrounds, but also better knowledge of accepting people, living in harmony with one another and growing spiritually with God.”
Byron Martin, Director of Multicultural Enrichment, will be producing the play and acting as a co-director alongside Green. Byron has been a part of the Black History production for several years.
“This year’s production gives [students] the opportunity to express themselves in a venue that’s normally not open,” said Martin. “It is an opportunity to share with the campus a culture that’s not the main one on campus.” Their goal is “to put on an incredible show that tells a story about how God is always in the process of reconciling us to him.”
Tickets are $5 presale and $7 at the door. Students can buy tickets in the Campus Center or come to the office of Multicultural Enrichment in McKinzie Hall.
