Pollyanna Theatre, the resident theater company of Austin’s Long Center, is partnering with the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum for the third year to present their highly acclaimed production for children and families about civil rights, Liberty! Equality! And Fireworks!

Written by DDCE Associate Vice President Gregory S. Perrin, the play will be staged on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2:00 p.m., at the LBJ Library Auditorium. The performance is free and open to the public. No reservations or tickets are required to attend.

The powerful play follows the field trip adventures of a group of fourth grade students who are visiting a history museum but are surprised by what happens when people from iconic images come to life and tell them their personal stories. These characters entertain and enlighten; taking the next generation of theater-goers on a fascinating journey through the history of the civil rights movement.

Perrin is a successful Texas playwright, who studied with three-time Pulitzer Prize winner Edward Albee. He has received five different commissions to  write plays for family audiences and was the inaugural playwright commissioned by Theater LaB Houston for the Fiesta First Ward Children’s Theater Project.

“History is important, but many of our children feel that it is boring because it has nothing to do with them. My goal is that the children seeing this play will leave with questions about what they have seen, which hopefully will lead to conversations with parents, grandparents, teachers and friends. These conversations–though sometimes difficult or unpleasant–need to happen,” said Perrin.

The LBJ Library’s Education Department helped create educational resources to accompany the show, which are available free of charge, online and in print for all adults who attend the production. The materials explore the civil rights movement and include recommendations on how to navigate children through this very important topic.

Mark Updegrove, director of the LBJ Library says the Presidential Library has been observing the 50th anniversary of the creation of the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities, signed into law by President Johnson in 1965.  “As our nation also marks the 50th anniversary of key pieces of legislation that LBJ signed that address equality, the right to vote, and fair housing, the LBJ Library Education Department is excited to join hands with the leaders of Pollyanna Theatre to invite a new generation of Americans into this important conversation about our liberties,” said Updegrove.

For more information on Liberty! Equality! And Fireworks! or about Pollyanna Theatre Company, please visit www.pollyannatheatrecompany.org. Also check out this video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyL6f43qrRg