The Mountaintop a relevant reminder to raise our voice
As we begin 2026, the power of The Mountaintop feels particularly important and relevant. Our cast and crew have felt the sobering truth of that relevance as they have explored this powerful script. We are grateful that you have chosen to be part of that journey and hope you will find inspiration in the experience.
Early in the production process, the cast and members of the production team traveled to Memphis. Our director, Darren Canady, says the company’s understanding of the show underwent a profound shift during the trip.
Among the sites they visited was the National Civil Rights Museum, which includes the Lorraine Motel. There, they were able to see Dr. King’s room. As Darren reflected following the visit, “It’s hard not to feel the energies of what had occurred there.”
The trip also revealed other sobering realities of the civil rights movement, including the murder of Larry Payne, a 16-year-old killed by police during the sanitation workers’ strike just days before Dr. King was assassinated. The group attempted to visit his grave but were unable to find it in what they described as a poorly maintained cemetery. It felt like a painfully symbolic reminder of a forgotten voice, one of many everyday voices silenced for standing up for what was right.
One of the most powerful, and controversial, aspects of the play is its deeply human portrayal of Dr. King. He is not placed on a pedestal. He is shown as a man with holes in his socks, capable of making imperfect decisions. Some have criticized the script for this approach.
Playwright Katori Hall, however, pushes back, saying: “A warts-and-all portrayal of Dr. King is important because there’s this extraordinary human being who is actually quite ordinary. I feel as though by portraying him with his flaws and foibles, we, too, can see—as human beings who have these flaws—that we, too, can be Kings; we, too, can carry on that baton that he has passed down to us.”
Anyone’s voice can be raised. Some may speak with greater elegance, and some may be forgotten over time—but the truth and the demand for justice carried in those voices will endure.
Jamie Ulmer
Executive Director
Theatre Lawrence News & Announcements
