On Monday night the first event in this season’s live entertainment calendar at the Karrh Center played in honor of Black History Month. Attended by a wide cross section of our community - even students in our county were admitted free with a paying parent or guardian for this historical play. The performance was the inspiring, entertaining and heart moving theatrical production,
“The Fire of Freedom” featuring actor Mike Wiley.
Wiley’s nationally regarded and well-reviewed one-man theatrical performance tells the story of Abraham Galloway, a young slave, rebel and Union spy who became one of the most significant black leaders in the South during and after the Civil War. “The Fire of Freedom” is inspired by the book of the same name by David Cecelski, adapted by playwright Howard Craft and directed by Hilda Willis.
To quote Cecelski, “His [Galloway’s] is the oft told story of the rebel hero who lives a life so deeply unreconciled to tyranny that even the most downtrodden and despised are moved to believe, at least for the brief moment of it flashing across the night sky, that freedom and justice may not be just a dream.”
Abraham H. Galloway (1837-1870) was a fiery young slave, rebel, radical abolitionist, and Union spy who rose out of bondage to become one of the most significant and stirring black leaders in the South during the Civil War. Throughout his brief, mercurial life, Galloway fought against slavery and injustice. He risked his life behind enemy lines, recruited black soldiers for the North, and fought racism in the Union army’s ranks. He also stood at the forefront of an African-American political movement, even leading a historic delegation of black Southerners to the White House to meet with President Lincoln and to demand the full rights of citizenship. He later became one of the first black men elected to the North Carolina legislature.
For a more detailed history, google NPR from February of 2022 entitled “Abraham Galloway is the Black figure from the Civil War you should know about”
This is a life and story fully suited to the stage - and perhaps someday to the screen…both of which are well served by the Karrh Center on North Green Street here in Swainsboro. As many in the community are aware, the Karrh Center has had a number of cinematic events since Thanksgiving of last year, including “Wicked for Good”, opening week and now playing “Crime 101” through Sunday, February22 . Cinematic events are Fridays at 7, with matinee pricing at 3 on Saturdays and Sundays, and additional showings at 5:30 & 7 p.m. depending on the film and scheduling. Coming February 27th is the animated family film, “Buffalo Kids”.
Other live events are planned, with the next being Dark Desert Highway, an Eagles Tribute Band playing Friday, April 17th at 7 p.m. - doors opening at 6:30. For information on pricing or other events please visit karrhcenter.com and click on the three line “hamburger” under the logo and above the Youtube Video.
