LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington’s Message Theater, the Bluegrass Theatre Guild and several community leaders are interlocking tough conversations with local arts.
It’s a story that shapes Americans’ lives daily and one that community leaders say can be difficult to process.
Now they are putting on an impactful show for central Kentuckians and more to gain more than one understanding of a complex issue.
Dawn Runyon is joining her second-ever play after taking on her first around the pandemic and as a milestone for her golden birthday. She says the play she is joining has an inspirational story.
“It stood out to me because of that, and I want to say I am now for the second time officially on stage doing something like this,” Runyon said.
American Son is a Broadway production by Christopher Demos-Brown that was adapted into a Netflix film. It tells a challenging-yet-invigorating story of the relationship between law enforcement and multi-racial families during conflict and public divide.
The film debuted in 2019 amid calls for civil justice and reform—a year before the deadly shooting of Breonna Taylor by police. Several other incidents of police shootings of black people had already occurred.
Runyon says her interest in being in a play like this hits home, as the story is situated around the described identity of a biracial 18-year-old boy and his male African American friends.
“I had seen the movie, and the story resonated with me because I’m a mom of two Black adult males. I am sending them to the house every day. It is one of the scariest things I do.” Runyon explained.
Patrick Mitchell is the producer and founder of the Message Theater. He plays Lieutenant Stokes — the role of the African American police officer giving a two-door perspective into the realistic story.
Mitchell says it’s their focus to keep the community engaged and talking about these situations.
“I think as a community, a theater community, we need to be more socially conscious along with making these conversations known that need to happen and to get people to think about it and as it occurs throughout this show,” Mitchell explained.
When Runyon is not on stage, she is a leading community advocate against intimate partner violence for Green Dot services.
She says being a part of this play is exciting for her as she reaches yet another milestone.
“I’m getting ready to be 52, and I get a chance to live out my dream a little bit when I see all of those Black actresses on tv,” Runyon said happily.
The show will continue in Frankfort this coming weekend at Bradford Hall at Kentucky State University’s campus, April 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m., and April 23 at 2 p.m.