Farm Arts Collective presents “The Road to Damascus”

Farm Arts Collective on Willow Wisp Organic Farm presents “The Road to Damascus (as told by Grandmother to Little Red)” on Saturday, May 24 at 7 p.m.

Written and performed by New Orleans performer, Kathy Randels, the play is currently touring the northeast and is making a stop at Farm Arts Collective. Produced by ArtSpot Productions the play is directed and co-created with Odile Del Giudice.

It draws upon Randels’ upbringing in two generations of Southern Baptist preachers, and her life-long commitment to the work of making theatre with incarcerated women at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women for the past 24 years.

“The Road to Damascus” began as a prayer for the release of Gloria “Mama Glo” Williams, a longtime member of the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Drama Club whose 52 years behind bars was the longest sentence served at the prison. From 2019-2022, a “Free Mama Glo” campaign was held with many organizations including ArtSpot Productions to encourage Louisiana’s Governor John Bel Edwards to grant her pardon, which he finally did on January 25, 2022.

Williams will be present at the performance on May 24 at Farm Arts Collective.

In the play Grandmother is an incarcerated woman who tells the story of Saul/Paul’s conversion experience to her granddaughter during prison visits to illuminate the persecutorial nature of the system in which they live. They share stories of encounters with the Wolf and the Huntsman that leave questions as to which of these two figures is predator and which is savior. The play examines the perpetrator/victim/savior dynamic that is present in both stories, in ourselves, and in our national consciousness.

Kathy Randels is a captivating performer with a distinctly beautiful singing voice, her performances are very moving experiences.

In a recent interview about her work Randels says, “I’m drawn to wounds, and I think of my work as participating in healing at some level—or trying to facilitate healing. The creative team includes Designers Diane Baas (lighting), Kevin Griffith (set), Steve Gilliland (sound and music) and Shawn Hall (costumes), along with stage manager Tricia Anderson.

Tickets are $20

Pay-What-You-Can tickets are also offered at all Farm Arts performances.

There will be a post show reception with food, audiences are invited to bring their refreshment of choice and enjoy the patio prior to the show.