The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963

The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 is a stage adaptation of Christopher Paul Curtis’ novel by the same name. Soon after its publication in 1995, the novel was awarded a Newbery Honor and a Coretta Scott King Honor.

The year is 1963. In Detroit, ten year old Kenny listens to his mother tell stories of growing up in Birmingham, Alabama. But, it is ten year old Kenny who tells the story of this play. When his teenage brother starts getting into trouble (nearing juvenile-delinquency kind of trouble), the whole family – Momma, Dad, Byron, Kenny and Joetta – decide to pay a visit to their Grandma Sands in Birmingham. If anyone can make Byron straighten up, it’s definitely Grandma Sands. So, the whole family sets out on a wild and hilarious road trip across America in their car, the “Brown Bomber.”

When they make it to Birmingham, however, they find much more than they bargained for. They are shocked to discover (or re-discover) the racism that was running rampant in 1963. The play is about the warmth and humor of this very real family. It is also about gaining a fresh perspective on some of the most painful moments of the civil rights era. This adaptation of Curtis’ award-winning novel is unforgettable.

Author Christopher Paul Curtis is scheduled to sign books in the Target Lobby of The Children’s Theatre Company prior to the opening performance on Friday, September 8 and the 11:00 AM performance on Saturday, September 9, and after the 2:00 PM performance on Saturday.