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Synopsis
It’s early spring just after World War II in rural Mississippi, a place black people have
been leaving in droves. Not "Prince" Albert Clayton, a poor sharecropper but a gifted
grower, who loves his family and feels a sense of belonging.
At a party for his friend just out of the Army, Albert gets a cash award for “best cotton
crop” and learns his wife Louella is pregnant. Happy with himself and his life, and
inspired by a prophetic spring snow, he decides to fulfill a lifelong dream of having a
clean white house on a hill. He decides to fix up and paint his shabby tenant house at the
end of the growing season. That simple notion turns his whole world upside down.
Albert discovers that folks are against it, not only his landlord and the other whites in
town, but most of the blacks too, including his wife, his friends, and even his preacher.
When the racist white store owner angrily cuts off his credit, and Albert’s very survival is
threatened, he responds by becoming even more determined. Passions break out,
resentment and fear surge, shattering family and community and threatening life itself.
Finally, when his simple dream turns into despair, Albert rediscovers himself. With
courage, and a new realism about what his family truly needs, and what is actually
possible, he and Louella reconcile and move with renewed love into a hopeful future.
The show is dramatic, often funny, sad, yet full of life and rhythm, with a rich blues,
gospel, country, and Americana score.
Cast Description
ALBERT CLAYTON A sharecropper – a strong, decent man, a
natural leader, and a gifted farmer.
LOUELLA Albert’s wife, hard-working, spirited, worn by
farm life and wanting change.
LETTIE Louella’s sister, sprightly, sexy, and licking old
wounds before she runs off to new adventures.
AUGUSTUS Albert’s buddy just out of the Army. He drinks
beer, talks a lot, and has a temper.
GRANNY Louella’s grandmother, battered by age and
illness, still sharp, assertive, cranky.
COOTER Albert’s son, a smart kid who loves his papa
and can’t see any other future but “cotton
life”.
PREACHER TOM A man with a quick tongue and lively
instincts wearing a frayed and self-conscious
piety.
HARDWAY A cunning, meddlesome friend, with a
weakness for gambling and taking what he
can.
JOHN TITTLE Albert’s white landlord, a clever, excitable guy,
who doesn’t know where he fits.
JAKE MATHIS The town storekeeper, busy demonstrating
the authority and importance he is afraid he
doesn’t really have.
Artists
The following artists are featured in the demo recordings.
Cheryl Alexander Rosalind Brown Tarea Campbell Lawrence Clayton John-Martin Green Aisha de Haas Lawrence Hamilton Bobby Harden Joshua Henry
Marva Hicks Heather Hill David Hughey Capathia Jenkins Anastacia McClesky Wayne Pretlow C.E. Smith
Bob Stillman Jeffrey Thompson Glen Turner, Carlton Taylor
Rema Webb
