Frank Dobson, director of Vanderbilt University’s Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center, will present a reading of his original play, Young Messiahs Fly, at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16.

The event, which will be held at the Scarritt-Bennett Center near the Vanderbilt campus, is free and open to the public. However, because seating is limited, reservations are suggested and can be made by phone at 615-320-4651 or by e-mail at sschlunk@scarrittbennett.org.

Dobson, a novelist, playwright and poet, writes in Young Messiahs Fly about the rise and fall of Jonathan, a gifted, young black athlete and millionaire in the making, who faces tragedy from the aftermath of a chance encounter with the law. Jonathan’s predicament leaves the people in his life – his sports agent, a young female lawyer who befriends him and his mother – asking “now what?” The play is designed to also have the audience ask this same question as they consider issues surrounding young, black celebrity status in today’s society.

The reading will include actors Rashad Rayford, Molly Breen, Roman Bryant and Scott Russell and will be directed by Shawn Whitsell, artistic director of The Destiny Theatre Experience. Illustrations by Channing Bailey, resident artist at Scarritt- Bennett’s gallery F and a senior at Tennessee State University, will also be featured at the event.
   
The African American Playwrights Exchange and gallery F@ Scarritt-Bennett is sponsoring the reading.

Media contact: Princine Lewis, 615-322-NEWS
princine.lewis@vanderbilt.edu