As part of the University’s Engendering Diversity and Community conference last week, actress Teresa Willis presented her original theater piece “Eenie Meanie,” which chronicles her own experience with racism.
The 60-minute piece, sponsored by the Iota Delta sorority and performed in the Cabaret Theatre, focused on Willis’ journey growing up in Valley Station, Kentucky – as a white girl who endured racism.
Home video clips along with the song “Wanting Memories” by Ysaye M. Barnwell started the performance.
As the production began, Willis came out as a 5-year-old, reliving her first encounter with a black person, a man fixing her piano in her living room.
As the piece unfolded, Willis continued to reveal the most influential and moving moments of her life involving African Americans.
She “skated” around the stage, to “ABC” by the Jackson Five. Her surroundings were shown through images reflected behind the stage as reminiscent music brought the audience back to her childhood days in the mid-1960s.
The powerful piece took the audience decade-by-decade through the actress’ life from an innocent child to an empowered woman.
Other chapters in Willis’ life included a same-sex relationship with a black woman as well as a confrontation with her prejudiced parents about racism.
When the play ended, Willis spoke directly to the audience and audience members shared common experiences.
Many were moved by the piece.
“The way she used her body language to involve the audience was wonderful,” said Melvin Ward, a theater arts major.
“I really enjoyed it. I laughed and felt sad at the same time,” said Samantha Toia, a freshman philosophy major.
“I felt that this was a very appropriate piece in that it confronted issues that we deal with as a generation even now,” Adam Evan, freshman theater arts major, added.
Besides being tapped for the ULV conference, Willis’ play was chosen from among hundreds of applicants from across the nation to participate in the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival.
Willis has also taken “Eenie Meanie” to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Mercedes Bermudez can be reached at mbermudez@ulv.edu.
