play synopsis
Beginning in the mid 19th century, the Women's Suffrage Movement battled for women to gain their rights at the ballot box. Victory came through with the ratification of the 19th Amendment of the United States Constitution in August of 1920.
On November 2, 1920, Gwendolyn Harris - a school teacher - would vote for the first time, as the third generation of women in her family who fought for this very moment. Hear Gwendolyn's journey on getting to the historic day when all women were given the right to vote and the joy it brought her to cast her ballot.
SETTING:
The play takes place in a meeting hall in an undisclosed location that is going to be decorated for a victory party celebrating Election Day on November 2, 1920.
post show SURVEY
Thank you for joining us for today’s performance! Could you please take a moment (seriously, just a few quick questions!) to share some feedback with us?
NOTES from FOUNDING director, ophelia wellington:
Why is Freetown Village doing a play about the suffragist movement, you might ask? Our mission focuses on African American history and culture in Indiana. What began as exclusively centering on the year 1870 has long since expanded to include other years in history in order to give a more expansive story of Indiana African American life.
“Sign of the Times” is the first Freetown Village production that advances the story of the original 1870 Freetown Village residents to the third generation of settlers. If you saw “Freetown Village Celebrates Christmas” you would have seen Gwendolyn Harris’ grandmother (Sarah Elizabeth Cuffee) and her mother (Rebecca Cuffee) as a little girl. Although there is no real community called Freetown Village, it is a composite story of the approximately 60 plus African American communities scattered throughout Indiana. Historically, Freetown Village would have been located on the near west side of Indianapolis near where IUPUI is located now.
Freetown Village strives to educate the public about African American history and culture primarily through the performing arts. We research topics and develop the platform to creatively retell that story. Two years ago, many people celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, 1920-2020. We felt that created a great opportunity to tell the suffragist story and waited until another election year to present “Sign of the Times”. In our research we discovered a photograph in the Indianapolis News of several African American women on Indiana waiting for their turn to vote on November 2, 1920. The 19th Amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920, and less than two months later approximately 71,000 women voted in Marion County.
After the victory of women gaining the right to vote, many opposing forces and organizations came against African American women and men, imposing poll taxes, literacy tests, and voter intimidation until the 1965 Voting Rights Act outlawed discriminatory voting practices. Today we see the resurgence of voter suppression with the need to pass yet another legislation, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 that would restore and strengthen parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The fight continues.
For more information about Black Hoosiers contributions to the suffrage movement, click here.
CRYSTAL V. RHODES, PLAYWRIGHT
CRYSTAL V. RHODES is an award-winning playwright and author. She has written over twenty plays which have been produced in theaters, high schools and colleges throughout the United States including several for Freetown Village touring productions. Her Two Act play, THE DIARY OF ANNIE MAE FRANKLIN, was selected as a read at the prestigious 2017 National Black Theatre Festival.
In 2019, THE DIARY OF ANNIE MAE FRANKLIN, won the American Stage Theatre’s 21st Century Voices New Play Festival and was a semifinalist for the 2020 Broadway Bound Festival. Her One Act play, 1200 MILES FROM JEROME, won the 2020 Ivoryton Playhouse Women’s Playwright Initiative, the 8th Annual Columbus Black Theatre Festival and the 2021 Onyx Fest. EBONY EAGLES, a Two Act play by Rhodes, won the 2020 Dean Productions “Premiere the Play” Festival, and was a semi-finalist in the 2020 Illinois State University Diverse Voices Festival, as well as a semi-finalist in the 44th Annual Bay Area Playwrights Festival for 2021.
ALICIA SIMS
ALICIA “The UnCuT Diamond” SIMS is a multidisciplinary artist gifted in vocals, performing arts, creative writing and visual arts. Never settling for her successes to be final or her failures to be fatal, The UnCuT Diamond uses each creative opportunity to present raw and authentic pieces of art. This open-minded artistry has allowed spaces for lead performances in amazing shows such as “Snatched” (Madam Walker Theatre) and “Stoops” (Theater at the Fort) directed by Deborah Asante, “Fly Babies” directed by Melissa Devito and Matt Spurlock (both Buck Creek Players), “Your Love Will Be Judged” (Onyxfest/IndyFringe) directed by Gabrielle Patterson and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (NAATC) directed by Edin Evans.
Alicia will be directing and producing her own self-written production, “When He Pulls the Covers” (Theater at the Fort) in October 2024. The UnCuT Diamond is a recipient of the 2022 Best Supporting Artist in a Drama (Encore Awards), 2022-2023 Creative Renewal Fellowship (Indy Arts Council), and 2024-25 Religion, Spirituality and Arts program. It is an absolute pleasure to direct "Sign of the Times" (Freetown Village) as an honorable exploration of women's suffrage and an empowering hope for the continued journey!
CLARISSA TODD
CLARISSA TODD, an Indianapolis native. joined the Asante Arts Institute at the age of 15, was then taken under the wings of Deborah Asante who taught her the art of Acting, Singing, Dancing, Writing, and Directing. Clarissa has performed in Ma’ Rainey's Black Bottom, More Light and King Richard the 3rd. She has also written and performed pieces in collaboration with Conner Prairie, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and the Indiana State Museum to name a few. Clarissa is grateful for the opportunity to bring Gwendolyn Harris to life in hopes that she reminds us just how far we’ve come and how much further we have to go in the fight for women’s rights!
PRODUCTION TEAM
Stanley Dumornay - Executive Director
Marriam A. Umar - Program Director
David Orr, Sapphire Theater - Set Design
Spencer Elliott - Technical Director
Cathy Cutshall - Costume Designer
Evan Law - Sound/Light Technician
SPECIAL THANKS!
Pauline Moffat, The District Theatre
D.R. Mercier Photography
Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
“Sign of the Times” is presented with the support of the following:
JOIN THE LIST OF SUPPORTERS OF FREETOWN VILLAGE!
post show SURVEY
Thank you for joining us for today’s performance! Could you please take a moment (seriously, just a few quick questions!) to share some feedback with us?
UPCOMING EVENTS
We hope to see you again soon - click here to see our upcoming programs and events!