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( Bluefield)—Coal miners and their families are really special people, resilient in the face of hardship, collectively supportive in the midst of tragedy. “Walking On Our Knees,” a theatrical presentation featuring a Bluefield State College student cast, brings to the Basic Science Auditorium stage the feelings of joy and sorrow that permeate a coal mining community’s way of life. The play, written and directed by Dr. Sharon Carr (Assistant Professor of Speech at BSC), will debut on November 9 at the College.
“I grew up in a coal mining community in Kentucky,” Dr. Carr recounted. “My brother was killed in the mines when he was 20 and I lost my father to black lung and emphysema. ‘Walking On Our Knees’ explores what it’s like to be a part of this community. It has its dark moments, but it also has some uplifting moments where strength and pride are derived from a strong sense of community.”
Prior to joining the BSC faculty this semester, Carr had directed college campus presentations of “Walking” at Southern Illinois University and Southeast Missouri University. “There’s a special feel for our rehearsals this time,” she continued. “At SIU and Southeast Missouri, the audiences didn’t come from mining backgrounds. They attended because they were curious about life in a coal mining community.”
“The Bluefield State College students in the cast are largely inexperienced as actors, but they are accessing their characters in a very real way. Because they’ve grown up in this region, they know who each character is, and they’ve come farther faster than any cast I’ve ever had.”
“’Walking’ tells stories from down in the mines; among them, the way a community responded to the loss of my brother, and the incident in which my father’s best friend lost his leg in a mining accident. But it also recounts stories of pride and even lightheartedness. This play is about real people. . .people who not only endure. . .they transcend,” Carr said.
The cast includes_Golda Anggraini, Mike Burton, Sam Owens, Eric Woodring, Kim Waugh, Galen Coleman, Karen Billings, Kandice Lester and Marie Bowden. Musical Interludes will be provided by Jenica and Rachael Wilson.
“Walking On Our Knees” will be presented nightly (7:30 p.m.), November 9-11 at the Basic Science Auditorium, with a matinee (2 p.m.) performance on November 12. There is no admission charge for BSC students, and a $5 admission charge for all others.
October 16, 2006
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