First Stage’s Powerful Drama on Slavery

The current show by First Stage children’s theater, “A Midnight Cry,” tells the harrowing tale of a runaway slave’s escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad. The play was written by Wisconsin playwright James DeVita, and Journal Sentinel critic Mike Fischer says that “Director Jeff Frank and his cast (deliver) some of the most difficult, painful and ultimately uplifting theater I’ve seen at First Stage.”

Ozaukee Magazine critic Mary Boyle writes that “The Todd Wehr Theater was the perfect, intimate setting for such a profoundly moving play, presented with a relatively small cast and simple props.  The music was all based on traditional, African-American spirituals – a banjo, drum and one or two other small percussion instruments were the only accompaniment to the magnificent voices of the actors.”

Our photo gallery captures the show, which runs now through February 9th.

Photo Gallery