Play traces 50 years of the African-American experience at UF

July 14, 2015

“Gator Tales,” a play that tells the story of African-American students at the University of Florida from the period of integration to the present will be presented on stage July 16-19 at the Black Box Theatre located in the Nadine McGuire Theatre and Dance Pavilion.

The University of Florida School of Theatre + Dance, in conjunction with the UF Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, will present the play which is devised and directed by professor Kevin Marshall, who also revised the script. Performance times are 7:30 p.m. July 16-18 and at 2 p.m. July 19.

“Gator Tales” is part of UF’s annual Creative B., during which participants across campus present a series of activities aimed to delight, educate and entertain. Creative B. was founded in 2010 by the Office of the Provost.

“The cast has a responsibility in this ‘archival drama’ of bringing to life people they’ve never met,” said Marshall. “This archival drama that is ‘Gator Tales’ highlights their extraordinary life experiences.”

The characters’ stories are drawn from the oral history archive of the UF Samuel Proctor Oral History Program and the Alachua County African American History Project.

"Gator Tales" made its debut at UF in February. The remount cast includes Crissie Auguste, Brittany Bennett, Dan Gray, Michael Ortiz, Mikell Pinkney, Summer Pliskow, Chelsi Stancil, Racquelle Wallace and Diego Zozaya.

Tickets are $17 for the general public, and $13 for students, UF faculty/staff and senior citizens. Group rates are available for parties of eight or more. Tickets are available through the University Box Officelocated at Gate 1 of the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, by calling 352-392-1653 or at ticketmaster.com. The University Box Office is open Tuesdays through Fridays 12-5:30 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased at the Constans Theatre Box Office starting 45 minutes prior to the performance.

The Nadine McGuire Theatre and Dance Pavilion is located at 687 McCarty Drive. Parking is available across the street from the UF Bookstore & Welcome Center on the University of Florida located on Museum Road.

“Gator Tales” is part of UF’s annual Creative B., during which participants across campus present a series of activities aimed to delight, educate and entertain. Creative B. was founded in 2010 by the Office of the Provost.

This particular event has been funded in part by a Tourist Development Tax Grant from the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners in conjunction with the Alachua County Tourism Development Council.

The School of Theatre + Dance is one of the University of Florida College of the Arts’ institutionally accredited schools. The College of the Arts is one of the 16 colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes at the University of Florida. To learn more, please visit www.arts.ufl.edu.