Main >> Hobbies & Interests >> My First Home Page

 
asongofgreenwood
Read below about our first hit production, "A Song of Greenwood."  It premiered in 1998 and was revised and produced again in 2001 on the 80th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Riot.  We are planning to restage it again for the Oklahoma Centennial Year of 2007.  Keep checking the website for audition announcements.
"'A Song of Greenwood' captures the spirit and energy of Tulsa's historic black district and reminds us that its tragic history can be redeemed by music, dance, and understanding

- Jim Hirsch
 Best Selling Author of "The Hurricane"
 Mr. Hirsch's new book, "Riot and Remembrance: The Tulsa Race War and its Legacy" ends with a passage about our production of "A Song of Greenwood." The book is available at all retail book outlets, including Amazon.com
"The Jewish Federation of Tulsa was happy to provide financial support to 'A Song of Greenwood' because we felt it would be a worthwhile educational endeavor and an opportunity for the organized Jewish community to work in partnership with the African-American community.  We were still happier to later attend a performance of the show and be overwhelmed by the outstanding theatrical experience we encountered.  A highly talented cast, a creatively crafted book and some rousing song and dance combined to make a thoroughly engaging presentation."

 - Robert Cohen
   Assistant Executive Director &
   Director, Community Relations
   Jewish Federation of Tulsa
"I hope every Tulsan will have the opportunity to learn more about their city's past by attending A Song of Greenwood.  Co-creators Tim Long and Jerome Johnson have skillfully  preserved the historical significance of The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 in a stage production that is both informative and entertaining.

The cast of A Song of Greenwood should be commended for its thorough and thoughtful interpretation of Tulsa's past.  These actors spent countless hours mastering difficult subject matter so the rest of us could learn from the mistakes of our past."

- Kelly Burley
Program Director
NPR / KOSU, Stillwater
"My husband and I absolutely adored your revised production of A Song of Greenwood! ...the changes you made - sharper dance sequences, the wonderful, hilarious parallel scenes by whites and blacks (such as the church choir scene, and others) etc. - made the play a much better play.  My husband and I have seen many plays all over the US and in Europe.  Nothing I saw in London, New York City, or Washington, D.C. moved me more than A Song of Greenwood!  Keep up the good work.

-Mrs. Eddie Faye Gates
Tulsa Race Riot Historian
Author of Miz Lucy's Cookies & The Came Searching
books about the African-American Experience.  
"Congratulations and thanks, Tim and Jerome.  A Song of Greenwood was an extraordinary combination of entertainment and education -- an excellent event for the entire family and the community.  The production aspects really exceeded my expectations -- the music, the dancing, the sets -- and so much local talent!  Great job!"

Stephanie Hill
International Marketing Manager
Williams Communications Group
A Song of Greenwood is an excellent production.  From the original music to the invigorating dances and inspiring actors, this production moves you in more than one way.  If you're not singing one of the songs when you leave or wiping away a tear, you have missed something!

-Carmen Pettie
Playwright / Director
Theatre North
After seeing the play, "A Song of Greenwood", I was deeply touched by the overall message Tim and Jerome portrayed.  The message conveyed in the play is universal--striving for unity, equality and respect--that being racial, financial, gender, and/or spirituality.  The cast was SUPERB!  They were so convincingly real, that even after the show, it was hard to remove them from their characters.  "ASOG" is a moving, stirring, and most definitely convicting production.  The music was great; and the songs & lyrics are wonderfully matched with the play's theme.  I laughed and cried and came out enriched after experiencing a significant piece of Tulsa's history through "A song of Greenwood."

Reverend Emile Hawkins
Liberty World Outreach
Special thanks to all our sponsors:
Greenwood Cultural Center, Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, Greenwood Christian Center, The Charles & Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, The Jewish Federation of Tulsa, The Oklahoma Arts Council through the National Endowment for the Arts, The Oklahoma Community Theatre Association,Pastor Emile Hawkins, Liberty World Outreach, The Williams Companies, Public Service of Oklahoma, Saxon Publishing, Inc & Darrin Walters, American Residential Group

And to these individual contributors:
Mona Long, Mark Loftis, Fred and Janet Smith, Lisa Hawkins, Richard & Jennifer Booker, Tyffny Ware, The McCorveys, Dr. Susan Proctor, Catharine & Jeremiah Scott, Elnora T. Cullinan, Raymond and Nancy Feldman, Robert L. Barr, Preston & Yvonne McHenry, "Shep" Johnson, Glenn and Sherry Jackson, Jean Pasley, Sharla Cowden, Charles Andrews.

Special thanks to the entire cast and the countless volunteers!  Thanks especially to Nita Smothers, Jennifer Smothers, Steve Nuchia, Chris Freihofer, Chris and Ann Miracle, Dwight Coleman, Quinton Davis, The Bradford Family, Lisa & Bruce Wilcox, Patty Hocking, Kym Barger, Linda Joyce, Bea Humphrey, Jenny Jackson, Erica Burks. I know I'm unintentionally overlooking some people, forgive me and THANKS to all !
(In case you missed "A Song of Greenwood" this year and have no clue what we're bragging about, here's a brief description of the Musical)
 "A Song of Greenwood" is a musical drama that has all the elements which make up a great piece of theater. This production vividly recreates the Jazz heyday of Tulsa, boasting the enegetic choreography of Jerome Johnson, a highly entertaining book with equal parts comedy and drama and a musical score packed full of showstopping production numbers and soaring ballads by composer Tim Long.
Since it's humble beginnings in 1998 this show has proven it can proudly stand among the ranks of other historic musicals like "Oklahoma!" "Ragtime" and "Titanic".  The cast of 50 area actors, singers & dancers are pooled from Tulsa's finest performers, most of whom are among Tulsa's younger generation.

Because of the entertaining and appealing nature of Musical Theater, "A Song of Greenwood" has been hailed as one of the city's best efforts to heal the generation old wounds of the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921.  While the number of historic accounts in print and documentary form is growing each year, there have been few offerings to the general public which are more palatable than "A Song of Greenwood"

 

page created with Easy Designer