Martin Luther King Play To Be Performed In Union County

Rahway, NJ -- In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday weekend the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway will present an original history play “MLK: The Nightmare After the Dream.”

The play will be performed on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. on the Mainstage at the Union County Performing Arts Center.

The production will feature performances by Writer and Poet Elliot Fant as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Assemblyman Jamel C. Holley as Andrew J. Young Jr., Elizabeth Officer Isa McClendon as Coretta Scott King, Hudson County Freeholder Bill O’Dea as Lyndon B. Johnson, and Elizabeth Councilwoman at Large Patricia Perkins-Auguste as Dorothy I. Height, among a host of local actors from the community and members of United Youth of New Jersey (UYNJ).

“The Freeholder Board is proud to support the artistic talent of Union County organizations through the UCACT program,” said Union County Board of Chosen Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “United Youth of New Jersey’s latest production exemplifies the mission of the UCACT program to support productions that draw people together for enriching and engaging community theatre experiences.”

Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the UCACT program, the play is written and produced by Union County residents Charlotte and Kenny Brown, who founded United Youth of New Jersey over nineteen years ago.

UYNJ is a 501c3 nonprofit youth organization based in Elizabeth that seeks to share the story of History icons. Through the art of theatre, UYNJ’s latest work MLK: The Nightmare After the Dream goes beyond Dr. King’s infamous “I Have a Dream” speech to highlight the many struggles involved in making the Civil Rights Bill a reality.

At the Jan. 16 performance, United Youth of New Jersey will present Senator Raymond J. Lesniak with UYNJ’s Alone We’re Good - But Together We’re Better Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his commitment to advancing social and civil rights and for his continued efforts to keeping Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream alive.

Tickets are $12 general admission and can be purchased through the UCPAC Box Office at 732-499-8226 or online at ucpac.org.

(Photo, provided)