FAMU theater professor Luther Wells directs play in Washington

Special to the Tallahassee Democrat
·2 min read
The Essential Theatre's Women's Works Program present "From the Mississippi Delta" by Endesha Ida Mae Holland, Ph.d and directed by Luther D. Wells, Sunday, June 19 – July 10, 2022, at the Anacostia PLAYhouse in Washington, D.C.
The Essential Theatre's Women's Works Program present "From the Mississippi Delta" by Endesha Ida Mae Holland, Ph.d and directed by Luther D. Wells, Sunday, June 19 – July 10, 2022, at the Anacostia PLAYhouse in Washington, D.C.

Putting to rest the old saying, "those who can't teach," is Florida A&M University's Associate Director and Professor of Theater, Luther D. Wells.

Just coming down from an off-Broadway directing stint of the AUDELCO award-winning, "Sugar Ray," Wells is currently in previews for a Washington, D.C., production run of "From the Mississippi Delta," by Endesha Ida Mae Holland, Ph.D.

Presented by Washington, D.C.'s The Essential Theatre, the performance is currently hosting a series of pay-what-you-can (PWYC) preview performances at 7 p.m. June 19 through 23.

The Thursday, June 23 PWYC preview will stream live and will include in keeping with the show's theme of poverty, a post-performance panel titled, Creating Generational Wealth. The live stream PWYC performance and discussion can be accessed by paying whatever you can afford at theessentialtheatre.org.

Inspired by Alice Walker's poem "Revolutionary Petunias," "From the Mississippi Delta" is the inspirational story of Holland as it details her poverty ridden, blossoming journey from Greenwood, Mississippi to academia. The play is an emotional tribute to unsung "sheroes" extraordinary, ordinary women who are the backbone of their communities.

Now in his 29th year as a member of the university's theater faculty, Wells believes the biggest difference between what happens in educational theater and professional theater is time and personnel.

"The biggest difference is having to work within a shorter time frame and working with a production team of people with whom I've never worked. I usually have my own team of people and we share a common vocabulary," he said.

Having this experience serves as confirmation for him. "We are preparing our students to meet the demands of today's market. I do indeed feel good about the work that we're doing with our students," Wells said.

To view the June 23, PWYC Preview of "From the Mississippi Delta," by Endesha Ida Mae Holland, Ph.D., directed by Luther D. Wells, visit theessentialtheatre.org.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU theater prof Luther Wells directs 'Mississippi' in Washington