The Play

The legend of Henry Wells and the burning of the Pickens County Courthouse will forever be more than just a local tale thanks to a cooperative effort between First National Bank of Central Alabama and the Pickens County Courthouse Preservation Foundation. Leon Manning, of First National Bank, had the idea to bring this story to life and preserve it for generations to come by staging a play at the scene of the alleged event. Taking cues from Monroeville, Alabama’s success with the annual presentation of To Kill A Mockingbird, it everyone’s goal to make The Face In The Courthouse Window an annual event that will bring pride to the Pickens County community for years to come.

To accomplish the daunting task of immortalizing legend Henry Wells, the sponsors enlisted the help of two experienced and talented artists to bring a new level of excitement to this notable piece of Pickens County’s past.

Barry Bradford, Playwright
Widely recognized throughout the southeast, Alabama native Barry Bradford was commissioned to immortalize local legend Henry Wells in The Face In The Courthouse Window theatrical presentation. Bradford is known for his fearless portrayal of delicate subjects - like slavery and racism - and for his ability to bring to light the unique struggles of the human condition. His interpretation of Henry Wells’ plight to survive in the turbulent post-slavery south is destined to be a moving and thought-provoking journey.

A graduate of the University of Alabama, Bradford has been writing plays for over 19 years. He has won the Southern Playwrights competition in 2005 and 2009, and was a recipient of the Mutual of America Community Service Award.

“First National Bank is proud to support the preservation of this unique piece of Pickens County’s history and folklore by working with Mr. Bradford on this literary undertaking,” remarked Leon Manning, senior vice president and marketing director of First National Bank. “It is no small effort and we are eager to present his gifted perspective on this story. We fully expect the play to attract attention throughout Alabama and the southeast, and are honored to have such a talented playwright involved in this project.”

Sarah Norris, Director
Sarah Norris, Alabama native and highly touted theatrical director, will return home to direct the premiere of The Face In The Courthouse Window.

A 2002 graduate of the University of Alabama, Norris’ successes have played coast-to-coast, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Fresno, Minneapolis and Maine. She resides in New York City where she recently received rave reviews for directing Arthur and Ester at the New York Fringe Festival. Her achievements also include directing productions of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and High School Musical, Oklahoma, The Producers, Shenandoah, Romeo and Juliet, The Heiress, The Laramie Project, Camelot and Show Boat.

Norris added international accolades to her resume when she directed two musicals at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in Adelaide, Australia. However she has maintained her Alabama ties, returning to Tuscaloosa on various occasions to direct A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Two Gentlemen of Verona and most recently, The Foreigner last November.

She gained early experience both on and off Broadway, but most notably as production assistant for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Ashley Judd, Jason Patric and Ned Beatty, and I Am My Own Wife, which won the 2004 Tony Award for “Best Play.”

“First National Bank is excited to bring the talents of Sarah Norris to The Face In The Courthouse Window project,” remarked Leon Manning, senior vice president and marketing director of First National Bank. “She has received much praise for her remarkable understanding of historical events and characters. Her Alabama roots should give her special insight into southern culture of the mid to late 1800s. We look forward to her interpretation of Mr. Bradford’s script, and their combined vision of Henry Wells’ circumstances.” Read more about Sarah Norris at www.sarahnorris.org.

Sponsors
First National Bank of Central Alabama
Alabama State Department of Tourism and Travel
Tuscaloosa Theatre