Little Rock

See it if You like shows that mix history, music and plot so you almost don’t notice that you’re learning about a very ugly part of our history.

Don't see it if You’re looking for something light and fluffy. This is ultimately full of hope and love but it’s a pretty dark ride getting there.

See it if A melodrama made for tv. A story that goes many directions but does not stay focused.

Don't see it if Sporadic acting, a show that is not solid in script in that lack of focus, consistency.

See it if Black high school students cope with racist anger and their own fears in 1957 Little Rock. Good history, with enjoyable acapella singing.

Don't see it if You don't like historical reenactments. Predictable sentimental story arc. Moderate character development. Frequent use of racial slurs.

See it if Ambitious & still pertinent this quasi-docudrama is often hamfisted & clumsy While individual scenes are powerful & painful plot is sluggish

Don't see it if Act 2 looses some urgency but Harrington's robust projections a constant reminder that "if we forget the past, we are doomed to repeat it"

See it if you enjoy historical reality. This was part of my history. The use of a National Army in the US is quite rare. The actors bring it to life

Don't see it if You need light entertainment.. NOTE: the A Capella singing is wonderful

Also Acting is wonderful.
Although it hurts to go back to "Our Sins" it prevents us from forgetting.... Read more Read less

See it if Moving historical drama of the Little Rock Nine who countered the segregated South w/ conviction at an offbeat space of thought and culture.

Don't see it if Some awkward activist writing and shallow characterization. Adults portraying high schoolers.

See it if humanize lionized Little Rock 9 as teens w teen-agerly concerns; best scenes show white & black teens transcending bigotry

Don't see it if features a lot of gospel music/actors good but not top-notch singers; sluggish 1st act/better 2nd; script laden w cliches

Also In one of the more arresting scenes, the Little Rock 9 teens (played by 6 actors) giddily fantasize about a black president, offering up such prominent black figures from the times as MLK and Harry Belafonte. Too bad that the play does not explore another legacy of Little Rock: that the overt racism that underlie resistance to the integration of schools continues in different forms today to inform anti-poverty and immigration government policies or even, some speculate, the election of the current divisive president.... Read more Read less

See it if you appreciate a retelling of a very important event in our country's history of civil rights. Very powerful dialogue and great acting.

Don't see it if you do not want to see a drama about civil rights or don't want to listen to some very racist comments which are necessary part of this play

Also This drama lets you enter the very difficult world that these 9 students faced. You see the good and the bad.Excellent use of songs to move the action along. It is a very powerful play and I hope it moves to a bigger theater.... Read more Read less

See it if You want a bit of history lesson

Don't see it if You don’t like plays that are a history lesson.

See it if you want to see a semi-factual take on the back stories of these children who were thrust into history and did the best they could.

Don't see it if you're expecting high production values - the sets and costumes were amateurish and the script doesn't flow very well.

See it if you're interested in important true stories about America's ugly past and overcoming racism/adversity. Some nice acapella singing too.

Don't see it if you don't want to see racism depicted on stage or want escapism entertainment. Too long at 2:20, should be streamlined to 2 hours.

See it if You are interested in the events as seen through the characters of this monumental historic time.

Don't see it if You dont like 'small theatre', Despite being in the Sheen's auditorium it feels intimate. Small cast playing multiple roles.

Also I have a friend who says "show me dont tell me". I had the distinct feeling I wanted more show and less tell.... Read more Read less

See it if interesting historical play, sometimes funny & most often touching, about a sad racial time in our past, subtle & violent aspects of racism

Don't see it if don't like historical plays or those about racism; actors that play multiple roles

Also The very beginning was a little slow and didactic & the characters a little one dimensional but once the story become more emotional the pacing and acting became greatly improved (although some actors were excellent throughout).
This was a story that I thought I knew but apparently only knew superficially. The students getting in the door was hard but staying there was even harder.... Read more Read less

See it if you want greater understanding about a sad chapter in American history. Great accapella! Show is realistic and powerful.

Don't see it if you are overly sensitive to the n word, regardless of appropriate use.

See it if you are interested in recent history of race relations in US, fine singing & acting, powerfully relevant messages about humanity & democracy

Don't see it if you dislike even a small amount of sentimentality, are "tired" of thinking about race relations in the US and desire just pure entertainment

See it if you want to learn more about the feelings and reactions of the Little Rock 9 to their first year of integration.

Don't see it if you don't want to see white people at their worst. Occasional use of the N word.

See it if you ever curious about the personal story about what it was like to be those Little Rock students

Don't see it if you were expecting some soul searching play about the the Little Rock students, this is not it. TOO much gloss. Not enough grit!!!!

See it if you want to experience an intense, gut-wrenching, real-life drama about our messed-up history. Many tears shed on-stage & in the audience.

Don't see it if you can't handle the truth. Just when you think we've come a long way as a nation, this play reminds us we still have so much further to go.

Also Intense & hard to stomach, yet it MUST be seen.

Thru history books & video archives, we already know about desegregation & Little Rock. Thus, we expected to learn much more about "the nine" as individuals: their backgrounds, what got them there, why them, etc., but were left a little flat. Still, even though the book is not very strong, this is an important play.

The entire cast is strong & do their best w/what they've been given, skillfully playing SO many additional roles (small cast of 9). On that note, it was VERY distracting that only 6 actors play "the nine" (the other 3 play the white characters). Make everyone play all the characters you want, but "the nine" should have been portrayed by NINE individual actors.

Pleasantly surprised by all the singing throughout. Everyone is excellent & harmonies are tight. Expected no less from Shanice Williams & Stephanie Umoh (whose work I'm familiar with), but Justin Cunningham & Anita Welch were particular stand-outs as well.

GO SEE IT.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to understand what happened to the students who integrated a Little Rock school in the 1950's and the sacrifices they made to do so

Don't see it if you are not interested in the history of the 1st school integration in the segregated south of the 1950's.

See it if you'll enjoy a play about a dark moment in US history performed by a talented cast.Newspaper headlines & pop song from era provide context.

Don't see it if you prefer plays that are fully staged, with catchy tunes with original lyrics. You don't like historical plays.

See it if You want to see a thought provoking play about a deeply meaningful period of history.

Don't see it if you can't bear to see racism reenacted, as well as violence and cruelty depicted on stage.

Also This play was well worth seeing--it was beautifully produced-and is clearly a work in progress. It tells the story of the Little Rock Nine--and is powerful and truly resonates. The costumes and staging were excellent, but the performances were uneven, the plot staggeringly long, and scattered, the ellipses too long, the use of media excellent at times and weak at others, and the sue of song powerful sometimes and distracting at other times. I so wanted this to be amazing and as a result was maybe unfairly disappointed and critical. The best scenes were the actual scenes of racism and cruelty of the school children.... Read more Read less

See it if you care about the legacy of segregation & the brave teenagers who were the 1st Black students to attend a formerly all-white high school

Don't see it if you doubt that these young people faced hatred and taunts and that segregation still plagues our society

See it if If you like historically relevant plays. Although I knew the story, seeing it presented, is so emotional and makes it real.

Don't see it if You do not like serious plays depicting deplorable historical events. This should be required viewing for ALL junior & high school students.

See it if visceral tale of a horrific chapter in our history thru beauty in voice, humor, staging, deft actors in mult. roles. Sadly, an open chapter

Don't see it if Do see it, forewarned that brutal, painful, deplorable actions & words are brought to life; feelings of shame, hope, revulsion, wonder await

See it if You want a more detailed understanding of the Little Rock Nine than you would have gotten in school.

Don't see it if You do not want to be reminded of how little progress has really been made in our current political climate.