See a special program about LIVING VOICES on KBTC's Full Focus HERE

Living Voices: The Right to Dream.
and
Total Experience Gospel Choir

The Right to Dream
Written by Rachel Atkins
Performed by Marcel Davis

Imagine taking a journey to a watershed moment in time. Consider your place in history. What it was like to live in another time? Through the magic of video and an interactive performer, Seattle ’s Living Voices presents unique and stirring presentations that capture the minds and hearts of today's audiences.

Living Voices’ “The Right to Dream” tells the story of Raymond Hollis, the Mississippi son of a WWII African American soldier. His mother is a domestic worker who is respected in their small Mississippi town. As a young boy, Raymond befriends a white boy and the two become great pals.

Raymond becomes aware that segregation and inequality must be ended in order to imagine a brighter future for himself and his family.

When Raymond wins a scholarship to Tougaloo College , he becomes involved with SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) and takes part in the sit-ins and protests of the early 1960's. When friends are hurt, and civil rights workers are killed, Raymond’s dedication to creating a colorblind society is tested.

After attacks by state troopers in Selma , Alabama , Raymond and the civil rights workers are rewarded with the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Raymond, inspired by Martin Luther King, dedicates himself to continuing the fight against racism and raising his people out of the world of intolerance.

INTERMISSION

Total Experience Gospel Choir was organized in September 1973 at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Seattle. The core group represented members of the “Black Experience Gospel Choir” of Roosevelt High School and the Franklin High School Gospel Choir of Seattle. United, the choir became known as “Total Experience Gospel Choir”. When the choirs merged, the community’s children were also invited to participate. And, participate – they did! The choir’s numbers grew to 108 within the first two months, with the youngest person being 8 years old. Today the choir’s ages range from 10 to 65. Since its inception, the choir has become known nationally and internationally. Their travels have taken them to 36 contiguous states as well as Hawaii and Alaska – for a total of 38 states. They have performed on 5 continents and in 28 countries.

Learn more about the choir HERE.






The Artists

Living Voices.

Marcel Davis has performed with Living Voices for seven years. A Seattle native, Marcel broke into acting nine years ago while performing with Seattle 's own Nu Black Arts West Theatre. With Nu Black, Marcel performed in Ghana , West Africa for Panafest '05. Marcel completed training in 2005 as a recipient of the Freehold Theatre Lab Diversity Scholarship Program. Other stage credits include Crooks in Of Mice and Men, Willie in Master Harold...and the Boys; both with Seattle Public Theater, Jerome in Bobby and Jerome; (world premiere with Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center), and Bernard in Death of a Salesman; also with LHPAC. Although Marcel's background is in theater, the past few years have been very fruitful with lead and supporting roles in both television and independent film projects. Most recently, Marcel appeared in a co-starring role in TNT's hit show “Leverage”. Marcel was also cast for a lead supporting role in an indie sci-fi feature, “The Last Colony”, which shot in LA, and is scheduled to premiere in the fall of 2010. Marcel would like to thank Living Voices for its continued commitment to keeping history alive in the minds of youths and adults.

Total Experience Gospel Choir.

Patrinell "Pat" Wright was born in Carthage , Texas . Her father was a Baptist preacher and her mother a schoolteacher. She sang her first solo at the age of three, and by her 14th birthday, was directing two choirs in her father's church. She graduated as valedictorian from Turner High School in Carthage , attended Prairie View A&M University , and moved in 1964 to Seattle . She has had an extensive musical career in her own right, and since 1997 has been pastor of the Oneness Christian Center in Seattle, which she co-founded.

The Crew

Stage Manager
TBA

Assistant Stage Manager
TBA

Sound Board Operator
TBA

Light Board Operator
TBA

Stage Crew
TBA


The Family Series was created to help families make the arts a priority in their lives by providing high quality, cultural and entertainment events at an affordable price, suitable for all ages.

The Family Series celebrates the creative spirit in everyone, young and old alike.

In presenting superior quality, affordable productions for families, we endeavor to create your family’s most memorable performing arts experiences.