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Monroe Pays a Visit to Birmingham

thegrio.com
Northminster Church in Partnership with St. Matthew's Church of Christ Holiness and World Love Ministries presents The Watsons Go to Birmingham. Pictured is the cast of the Hallmark Channel's 2013 movie.

In honor of Black History Month, three Monroe churches say it's time to pay a visit to the 1960's. 

Northminster Church, St. Matthew's Church of Christ and World Love Ministries are collaborating on a show called The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963. The play is about an African-American family in Detroit struggling to raise their son Byron. 

"He does things that aren't common with African American culture at that time, so his parents send him to Alabama to live with his grandma who knows how to raise an African American young man," says Phyllis Watkins-Davis, director of the upcoming production.

Gary Salazar is playing Byron's character. His favorite part of the play is when his character meets his grandmother for the first time.

"They kind of have a 'stare down' when they first meet and it's like the colliding of two forces," says Salazar, a student at Neville High School.

Davis says the first performance will take place at Delta Community College on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m., where a fee is required. A special performance for schools will also take place at Delta on Friday, Feb. 19, free of charge.The final show is Sunday, Feb. 21 at  Northminster Church, also free of charge.

Contact Phyllis Watkins-Davis at phylliswatkins-davis@live.comor 318-791-3838 for more information on performances and ticket prices.

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