It’s not a secret we’re living in tumultuous times. Our nation, our state, and even our community is faced with the challenges of differing opinions, ideals, and beliefs. For one actor, Russell Alexander II, he hopes Red Mountain Theatre Company’s upcoming event brings together a gathering of people to put aside their personal differences and engage in a story of love, inspiration, hope, and understanding. RMTC presents Memphis at the RMTC Cabaret Theatre, February 1-17.
Memphis weaves the tale of white radio DJ wanting to change the world and a black club singer looking for her big break during 1950s Memphis. They will face many uphill climbs, but the power of love and music will bring them together.
Alexander has had history with RMTC, performing as the Scarecrow in 2015’s The Wiz. For him, RMTC is a fun and comfortable environment that exudes a great energy and spirit among cast members. It’s this energy that invigorates him not only as an actor and storyteller, but also as person. It’s the need to tell a story that reflects the times of today and resonates with any community. “Birmingham has so much history, so many events that have conspired, and many struggles we have overcome…and some we are still struggling with today,” states Alexander. “The musical is coming out at the right time and the climate is really intense right now. People are really unsure of the trajectory of a lot of happenings all over.”
The Selma, Alabama native and UAB graduate does not sidestep the issue of his own personal struggles and his incredible optimism and determination to overcome them. “To be young and black in America, we can look at our lives and say, ‘I’m done, I’m tired, and I’ve had enough’”, reflects Alexander. “As an artist, as a person, and specifically as a person of color there are times I can really sulk on the negative and there are times it has affected my own voice. It hampers my ability to speak up or not speak up at all. My own insecurities get in my way of truly understanding my value and what I have to offer to those around me. The beautiful thing about my character Gator is that he has so much inside of him and we get the opportunity to see that stifled energy erupt from him. It’s the joy of life, that light, that love, that joyous child-like sense of Gator that inspires and drives me. I work to try and find that genuine joy and happiness and carry it all the time.”
In Memphis, music is a driving force to bring unity out of misunderstandings and division. The great Oscar Wilde stated in his essay The Decay of Lying, “Life imitates Art, more than Art imitates Life,” and nothing could be truer than the production of Memphis. For Alexander, theatre and music can open a line of understanding and communication among those that experience it. Alexander concludes, “Everybody in the cast is treating the show wish so much respect. I believe we are going to knock people off their feet not just from a show quality standpoint, but from the subject matter. It’s interesting to see how these characters deal with trying to fit throughout the story and not understand how they don’t fit. By the end, they are standing in harmony because they get it. I hope our community can witness these people and these situations. They can see how we relate to each other on stage despite our differences and it inspires them to do the same.”
Memphis
February 1-17
RMTC Cabaret Theatre
Click here for tickets and information.
