“THE CHEYNEY PLAYERS,” ALONG WITH THE 3RD REGIMENT INFANTRY OF THE UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS, will bring African American history to life at Mother Bethel AME Church located at 419 South 6th Street on Sunday February 12, 2012, during the 11am worship service. “The Cheyney Players,” under the direction of Jan Ellis-Scruggs, is a student drama organization on the campus of Cheyney University, Pennsylvania’s oldest African-American college (www.cheyney.edu).
The Cheyney Players have gained critical acclaim for their stage performances and known widely for their plays recounting events in African American History. The 3rd Regiment Infantry of the United States Colored Troops will also perform under the direction of Joe Becton, a Philadelphia area historian and leader of the Black Soldier re-enactors and tours. This Sunday’s performance at Mother Bethel AME Church is called “Freed to Fight” and will feature a Frederick Douglass character recalling one of Douglass’ famous speeches at Mother Bethel where he encouraged men to sign up for the Colored Troops to fight in the United States Civil War. On that day in history, five members of Mother Bethel AME Church enlisted in the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Voluntary Infantry. This is the same infantry profiled in the 1989 feature film “Glory” starring Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, and Matthew Broderick. The “Freed to Fight” performance will take place during the service which marks the 252nd birthday of Mother Bethel founder Bishop Richard Allen. The current bishop, Bishop Richard Franklin Norris, will bring the morning message. Sunday’s worship service at Mother Bethel follows a series of worship services, events, and activities celebrating Bishop Richard Allen starting on Thursday at First District Headquarter located at 3801 Market Street.
For more information about Mother Bethel and this week’s Founder’s Day activities go to www.MotherBethel.org or call (215) 925-0616. All media inquiries should be directed to Leslie Patterson-Tyler of Tyler-Made Productions at (609) 247-2632 or via email at Leslie@TylerMadePR.com.
