'Keepers of the Dream' envisions meeting of literary titans for Black History Month

Jim Abbott, Daytona Beach News-Journal
·5 min read
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There’s no historical evidence that two titans of American literature, John Steinbeck and Langston Hughes, ever met, although both embraced like-minded empathy for those struggling for equality.

The union of ideas and friendship that might have emerged from such an encounter is the centerpiece of “Keepers of the Dream,” a new two-act play by Ormond Beach poet, author and playwright Joe Cavanaugh that will debut with multiple performances during Black History Month in February.

“It’s about a Black man and a white man that become great friends, something that doesn’t happen as much in this lifetime as it should,” said Cavanaugh, 82, who conceived the play as a work of historical fiction with a message that love and respect can overcome conflict and anger.

Ormond Beach poet and playwright Joe Cavanaugh talks with James Sass, owner of Abraxas Books on Beach Street, while putting up posters for "Keepers of the Dream," his play that envisions a meeting of literary titans John Steinbeck and Langston Hughes. Cavanaugh found some materials for his research on the writers at the bookstore.
Ormond Beach poet and playwright Joe Cavanaugh talks with James Sass, owner of Abraxas Books on Beach Street, while putting up posters for "Keepers of the Dream," his play that envisions a meeting of literary titans John Steinbeck and Langston Hughes. Cavanaugh found some materials for his research on the writers at the bookstore.

“It’s also about what it’s like to be unequal in a country that says equality is part of the fabric of its existence,” he said.

“Keepers of the Dream” will open with a preview performance for students and the public at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at New Smyrna Beach High School. It also will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 and 2 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona Beach.

The production completes its six-show run with performances at Stetson University’s Carlton Student Union in DeLand at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 and 17, and 2 p.m. Feb. 18. Those performances will be part of the annual Thin Man Watts Jazz Festival that weekend.

A deep dive into two literary giants

As a college professor in California, Cavanaugh immersed himself in the works of Steinbeck, a giant among 20th century American authors for classics such as “Tortilla Flats,” “Of Mice and Men” and “The Grapes of Wrath,” the 1939 novel that earned both the Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes.

As he envisioned “Keepers of the Dream,” Cavanaugh also took a deep dive into the poetry of Langston Hughes, a founder of the Harlem Renaissance considered the originator of jazz poetry, an art form that incorporated improvisational music into spoken-word pieces.

Ormond Beach poet and playwright Joe Cavanaugh talks about the inspiration for "Keepers of the Dream," a two-act play that envisions a meeting of literary titans John Steinbeck and Langston Hughes. Six performances will be presented at three venues countywide during Black History Month in February.
Ormond Beach poet and playwright Joe Cavanaugh talks about the inspiration for "Keepers of the Dream," a two-act play that envisions a meeting of literary titans John Steinbeck and Langston Hughes. Six performances will be presented at three venues countywide during Black History Month in February.

In preparation for the play, Cavanaugh read more than 1,000 Hughes poems, he said. The impact of works such as “Ballad of the Landlord” (1940) and “I, Too” (1926) inspired Cavanaugh to frame the two imaginary meetings of the writers in the 1930s and the 1960s with music of the times.

Play powered by Central Florida theater veterans

Directed by DeLand-based theater veteran Deborah McShane, “Keepers of the Dream” will be performed by a cast that features spoken-word poet and musician Dove Dupree, a 2023 National Blackberry Peach Poetry Slam winner, as Hughes.

An undated photo of Langston Hughes, prominent Black poet, playwright, novelist, activisit and columnist, who led the Harlem Renaissance movement of the early 20th century.
An undated photo of Langston Hughes, prominent Black poet, playwright, novelist, activisit and columnist, who led the Harlem Renaissance movement of the early 20th century.

Longtime Central Florida theater actor Gary Norris will portray Steinbeck.

They will be augmented by jazz vocalist Samone Hicks and pianist Becki Sanford, who will perform jazz classics as well as improvised passages to accompany Hughes’ poems. Guitarist Terry Edwards will provide blues, folk and other iconic songs from the 1960s.

Ormond Beach poet and playwright Joe Cavanaugh reads a Langston Hughes poem that will be part of "Keepers of the Dream," a two-act play that envisions a meeting of Hughes and another legendary American writer, John Steinbeck. Six performances of the play will be presented at three venues countywide during Black History Month in February.
Ormond Beach poet and playwright Joe Cavanaugh reads a Langston Hughes poem that will be part of "Keepers of the Dream," a two-act play that envisions a meeting of Hughes and another legendary American writer, John Steinbeck. Six performances of the play will be presented at three venues countywide during Black History Month in February.

In the first act, set in the 1930s, Steinbeck and Hughes meet in a bar in Sag Harbor, New York, where they discuss everything from the oppression of Jim Crow laws to the Dust Bowl migration to California.

In the second act, the two writers convene again at a watering hole in California against the backdrop of the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam war and the fight for women’s rights.

For director McShane (“Ladies Taking Liberty”), the concept was an intriguing one.

“It’s interesting that they lived in the same time frame, but experienced it from totally different walks of life,” she said. “Both were leaders in speaking the truth about what was going on in society, speaking for the underprivileged and, I think, heightening people’s awareness about what was going on.”

'A very important message'

With six shows unfolding in three different venues, the “pop-up” nature of the production will present creative challenges for the actors and musicians, despite a month and a half of rehearsals, McShane said.

“It’s really a show that’s on the road,” she said. “We have to be really portable and that’s a very interesting thing for actors, to be able to adapt to environments, to set up and be ready to go. That’s a challenge, but it’s also exciting.”

For Cavanaugh, it’s important to take the production to different parts of the county to reach as many audience members as possible, especially students and young people.

Ormond Beach poet and playwright Joe Cavanaugh envisions a meeting of literary titans John Steinbeck and Langston Hughes in "Keepers of the Dream," a two-act play that will debut during Black History Month. “I want to make young people aware that there’s an alternative to the conflict and anger that is so prevalent in our society now," he said.
Ormond Beach poet and playwright Joe Cavanaugh envisions a meeting of literary titans John Steinbeck and Langston Hughes in "Keepers of the Dream," a two-act play that will debut during Black History Month. “I want to make young people aware that there’s an alternative to the conflict and anger that is so prevalent in our society now," he said.

“This enables us to do it for lower ticket prices, which will make it more accessible,” he said. “I want to make young people aware that there’s an alternative to the conflict and anger that is so prevalent in our society now. This play talks about friendship, love and respect. I think that’s a very important message.”

If you go

WHAT: "Keepers of the Dream," two-act historical fiction play about meeting of John Steinbeck and Langston Hughes.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at New Smyrna Beach High School, 1015 10th St., New Smyrna Beach; also, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 and 2 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Museum of Arts & Sciences, 352 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach; and, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 and 17, and 2 p.m. Feb. 18 at Carlton Student Union, Stetson University, 131 E. Minnesota Ave., DeLand.

COST: $25 general admission, $30 for preferred seating; $15 for seniors, students, teachers, first responders and military veterans. Accommodations available for students unable to afford to attend a performance, thanks to sponsorship assistance from Brown & Brown Insurance.

CALL: 386-453-5625

ONLINE: eventbrite.com

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 'Keepers of the Dream' play debuts in Volusia for Black History Month