Alabama Story
by Kenneth Jones

Alabama Story Book Cover — Alabama Story Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

120 mins 1950s Role(s) for Black Actor(s) Unit Set/Multiple Settings Period Costumes

Synopsis

As the Civil Rights movement is brewing, a controversial children’s book about a black rabbit marrying a white rabbit stirs the passions of a segregationist state senator and a no-nonsense state librarian in 1959 Montgomery, Alabama.

A contrasting story of childhood friends – an African-American man and a woman of white privilege, reunited in adulthood – provides a private counterpoint to the public events swirling in the state capital.

Political foes, star-crossed lovers and one feisty children’s author inhabit the same page in a Deep South of the imagination that brims with humor, heartbreak and hope.

Press Reviews

"Alabama Story explores thorny racial issues with smarts and sensitivity."
— DC Metro

"A disarmingly engaging drama… thoughtfully written… nuanced… well-layered."
— Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
GARTH WILLIAMS and	—	—	and
OTHERS 50ish or older, a white writer and illustrator from the East Coast. Frisky, sardonic, dry, funny, deadly serious and omnipresent, when practical. He also assumes the roles of aged, sickly Alabama State Representative BOBBY CRONE; sincere Montgomery newspaper reporter HERSCHEL WEBB; fiery segregationist columnist HENRY BRANCH; a folky RADIO ANNOUNCER; and two silent WHITE PASSERSBY. Requires a charismatic chameleon actor with range and gravitas.	male	50ish	50ish or older, a white writer and illustrator from the East Coast. Frisky, sardonic, dry, funny, deadly serious and omnipresent, when practical. He also assumes the roles of aged, sickly Alabama State Representative BOBBY CRONE; sincere Montgomery newspaper reporter HERSCHEL WEBB; fiery segregationist columnist HENRY BRANCH; a folky RADIO ANNOUNCER; and two silent WHITE PASSERSBY. Requires a charismatic chameleon actor with range and gravitas.
LILY WHITFIELD 32, a white woman from small-town Alabama privilege. Genteel Alabama accent. Politically unversed, she is the product of (and enjoys the benefits of) a racist system and has not questioned it. Sheltered, ashamed, loyal, religious, garrulous, charming, unhappily married, sentimental, all façade, ready to blossom.	female	—	32, a white woman from small-town Alabama privilege. Genteel Alabama accent. Politically unversed, she is the product of (and enjoys the benefits of) a racist system and has not questioned it. Sheltered, ashamed, loyal, religious, garrulous, charming, unhappily married, sentimental, all façade, ready to blossom.
JOSHUA MOORE 32, upwardly mobile middle-class African-American man who left Alabama years ago, settling in the north after serving in the Army. Purposely subtle and suppressed Alabama accent, which becomes pronounced when agitated. He is politically active, aspirational, loyal, kind, worldly, happily married, slow to boil, susceptible to nostalgia without getting lost in it, a disciple of Dr. King.	male	—	32, upwardly mobile middle-class African-American man who left Alabama years ago, settling in the north after serving in the Army. Purposely subtle and suppressed Alabama accent, which becomes pronounced when agitated. He is politically active, aspirational, loyal, kind, worldly, happily married, slow to boil, susceptible to nostalgia without getting lost in it, a disciple of Dr. King.
SENATOR E.W. HIGGINS 50ish or more, a white Alabama state senator. Pronounced Alabama accent. He is an active racist, a charmer, a bully, a bull, a poisoner, a politician. Most of what he says is rhetorical or performative. Not as smart as he thinks he is, but influential. He is never sorry. An extrovert.	male	50ish	50ish or more, a white Alabama state senator. Pronounced Alabama accent. He is an active racist, a charmer, a bully, a bull, a poisoner, a politician. Most of what he says is rhetorical or performative. Not as smart as he thinks he is, but influential. He is never sorry. An extrovert.
EMILY WHEELOCK REED 50ish or more, a white female librarian, the State Librarian of Alabama, born in North Carolina and raised in Indiana. No Southern accent. She has no sense of humor, she does not suffer fools, she is all business. When cornered, fallible. When her vulnerability is accessed and her heart unlocked, a person of good character is revealed. An introvert.	female	50ish	50ish or more, a white female librarian, the State Librarian of Alabama, born in North Carolina and raised in Indiana. No Southern accent. She has no sense of humor, she does not suffer fools, she is all business. When cornered, fallible. When her vulnerability is accessed and her heart unlocked, a person of good character is revealed. An introvert.
THOMAS FRANKLIN 28, a white male reference librarian, Emily’s assistant. Pronounced Alabama accent. Buttoned-up, genteel, educated, officious, efficient, slightly uncomfortable in his own skin. Neutral and objective when conveying information. The kind of man you want as your colleague, or your son.	male	—	28, a white male reference librarian, Emily’s assistant. Pronounced Alabama accent. Buttoned-up, genteel, educated, officious, efficient, slightly uncomfortable in his own skin. Neutral and objective when conveying information. The kind of man you want as your colleague, or your son.