Pitt's Kuntu Repertory Theatre to Present "A Liberating Prayer: A Love Song for Mumia" Nov. 8 to 10 Mumia Abu Jamal case, death penalty to be discussed prior to Nov. 9 presentation

October 18, 2002

PITTSBURGH—The University of Pittsburgh's Kuntu Repertory Theatre will present "A Liberating Prayer: A Love Song for Mumia" Nov. 8 through 10 in the Seventh-Floor Auditorium of Alumni Hall (formerly the Masonic Temple),

4227 Fifth Avenue, in Oakland.

Written by Sybil J. Roberts and directed by Eileen J. Morris, "Mumia" tells the story of two lovers who find themselves at odds on the morning of a "Free Mumia" rally. They journey through time to find peace and strength in their life together and their efforts to save Mumia Abu Jamal, an African American journalist whose conviction and subsequent death sentence 20 years ago for the killing of a police officer has sparked a worldwide movement by thousands of people who believe he was unjustly convicted.

Roberts is a poet, playwright, and professor of theatre arts at Howard University. Her work has been produced in Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Grahamstown, South Africa. Her play "Dream of Ophelia" was nominated for the 1999 Jeff Award for Best New Play in Chicago. "A Liberating Prayer: A Love Song for Mumia" recently premiered at Howard University. Her poetry has been published recently in "Beyond the Frontier" (Black Classic Press, 2002), an anthology edited by E. Ethelbert Miller.

Morris is the managing director of Kuntu Repertory Theatre. Last season, she directed Kuntu's opening production, "Murderer on the Hill District," as well as "Indigo Blues," "Lifting," "Miss Dessa," and "Flyin' West" at Pittsburgh's New Horizon Theatre; and "Get Ready," "Checkmates," and "Dancing on Moonlight" for the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. Originally from Houston, Morris' directing credits there include "Christmas is Comin' Uptown," "A Soldier's Play," and "Blues for an Alabama Sky."

Ben Cain, who appeared in the movie "The Temptations," will star as Mumia. Other cast members include Vanessa German, Ngozi Anyanwu, and Lugmaan Salaam.

Cain is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University. He now lives in Los Angeles and has appeared on the television shows "Law and Order," "New York Undercover," and "Homicide: Life on the Streets." His film credits also include "Dogma" and "The Homeboy."

Prior to the production Nov. 9, there will be a discussion of the Mumia case and the death penalty at 7 p.m. Participants include Dennis Brutus, professor emeritus in Pitt's Department of Africana Studies and an internationally known poet and leader of the struggle against apartheid in Africa; Lisa Freeland, an assistant federal public defender and advocate against the death penalty; and Marcus Redicker, a professor of history at Pitt and member of the Pennsylvania Abolitionists United Against the Death Penalty.

Performances will be held at 8 p.m. Nov. 8 and 9, and at 4 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Seventh-Floor Auditorium of Alumni Hall in Oakland. Tickets are $20 on

Nov. 8 and 9. On Nov. 10, two tickets can be purchased together for the special price of $18. Special discounts for Pitt students also are available. For more information or tickets, call 412/624-7298.

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10/18/02/mgc