by Susan Fried
There is an old African proverb that says, "Until the lion tells his tale, the hunt will always glorify the hunter." Mr. Delbert Richardson's award-winning American History Traveling Museum "The Unspoken Truths" presents history from the African American perspective by showing the rich history of Africans and African Americans and revealing historical facts and knowledge about the accomplishments of Black people throughout history that are left out of the majority of history books.
The Intiman Theatre's production of The Lion Tells His Tale, written by Vida Oliphant Sneed and directed by Steve Sneed, began as an exploration of how the museum and Mr. Richardson's journey to the life of a storyteller could be brought to life on stage. Longtime friends Vida, Steve, and Delbert met over Zoom during the height of the COVID pandemic and came up with a framework to turn Mr. Richardson's love of history and the importance of telling America's untold story into a play.
The result is a history lesson filled with amazing stories, music, and dancing.
The show runs May 1—5 at the Intiman Theatre's Broadway Performance Hall on the campus of Seattle Central College. Evening performances at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 2; Friday, May 3; and Saturday, May 4, have the best availability. Matinees on Saturday and Sunday have limited availability. Intiman also offers "Free for Everyone" tickets, where Intiman distributes 20 free tickets before every show — even if it is sold out online — starting one hour before curtain on a first come, first served basis. Learn more about "Free for Everyone" tickets on Intiman Theatre's website.
Susan Fried is a 40-year veteran photographer. Her early career included weddings, portraits, and commercial work — plus, she's been The Skanner News' Seattle photographer for 25 years. Her images have appeared in the University of Washington's The Daily, The Seattle Globalist, Crosscut, and many more.She's been an Emerald contributor since 2015. Follow her on Instagram @fried.susan.
📸 Featured Image: "The Lion Tells His Tale" ensemble performs a scene during a preview of the play on April 30, 2024, at the Broadway Performance Hall. (Photo: Susan Fried)
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