William's Leap for Freedom (Dramatized)

By: Renee Pringle - adaptation

Narrated by: Dion Graham, Mirron E. Willis, Barbara Rosenblat

This original audio play is based on the life and writings of freed slave William Wells Brown. SueMedia Productions, in conjunction with the National Audio Theatre Festivals (NATF), produced this performance, which was recorded live at the June 2010 NATF workshop in Missouri. It stars Mirron E. Willis as Wells Brown, and features Barbara Rosenblat along with a multi-voice cast. William’s Leap for Freedom is a two-part drama; a play within a play beginning with a fictionalized conversation between William Wells Brown and Mr. Polite. This audio drama then introduces Part Two of the play, which features selected portions of Well's The Escape or Leap for Freedom, as it relates to the tale of three slaves: Cato, Glen and Melinda.

Brown often stated that this play was specifically autobiographical. The couple, Glen and Melinda, did exist, and Cato is Brown himself. This production, directed by Renee Pringle, with assistance from mentor Sue Zizza, was post-produced by SueMedia Production’s David Shinn.

©2010 SueMedia Productions & National Audio Theatre Festivals (P)2010 SueMedia Productions & National Audio Theatre Festivals

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Nominee - Best Original Work, 2011

"An educational and entertaining play that sounds as historically honest, brave, and intelligent as Brown himself." (AudioFile)