on the Life of the Late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall

Bowie, Md.--Bowie State University’s (BSU) Performing Arts Center partners with The Elder Theodore L. Barber Scholarship Foundation, Inc. to present a play on the life of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall on Thursday, February 25, 2010, at 7 p.m. The event takes place at the University’s Samuel Meyers Auditorium of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Communications Art Center. Leading up to the play, at 6:30 p.m., the Oxon Hill High School Choir will present a mini-concert. The event proceeds will be donated to the scholarship foundation for Bowie State University students.

“The Department of Fine and Performing Arts is honored to have been selected by The Elder Theodore L. Barber Scholarship Foundation, Inc. to celebrate Black History Month at Bowie State University with this particular play that highlights the life of Thurgood Marshall, an extraordinary figure who served as the first African American on the Supreme Court and who had a major impact on civil rights for African Americans,” said Dr. Gail Medford, professor and coordinator of the BSU Theatre Program.

Tickets are $20 for general admission; $10 for students with identification.  Call 301-442-2166 for further information.

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend will make opening remarks, followed by 

the play which will feature a cast of judges from Maryland and Washington, D.C.  The role of Thurgood Marshall will be played by Maryland Court of Appeals’ Chief Judge Robert Bell.  Lieutenant Governor Anthony G. Brown will play the role of Spottswood Robinson, Marshall’s colleague, Prince George’s County Circuit Court Judge Sheila Tillerson-Adams will play the role of Buster, Marshall’s first wife, Prince George’s County Judges Thurman Rhodes and Larnzell Martin will portray Robert Carter and Walter White, colleagues of Marshall, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Gauvey of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland will portray the University of Maryland admissions officer who denies Marshall admission to its law school in 1930. Prince George’s County Circuit Court Judge Albert Northrop will play the voice of the Supreme Court and D.C. Administrative Law Judge Nicholas Cobbs will portray John Davis, Marshall’s opposing counsel who argued Brown v. Board of Education before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1954.

A “talk back” session will follow the play and provide the audience an opportunity to ask cast members questions.

About Bowie State University
Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds who seek a high quality and affordable public comprehensive university.  The University places special emphasis on the science, technology, teacher education, business, and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit the website at www.bowiestate.edu.