The Voices of Arrow Rock readers theatre series has been awarded a reconciliation grant by the Christian Church of Mid-America’s Anti-Racism Pro-Reconciliation Justice Ministries. Using art to explore history, this readers theatre series brings to life lesser-known citizens of Arrow Rock, one of Missouri’s most historically significant villages.

“It is about forgotten and underrepresented people, their times and their spirits,” says the Rev. Dr. Michael Kateman, creator and producer. “Their voices span the centuries since Arrow Rock was first mapped by French explorers in the early eighteenth century.” Kateman is pastor of the Arrow Rock Federated Church.

Each episode of Voices presents a theme through the perspective of our ancestors, which we continue to explore today. Episode One addresses the responsibilities of privilege, challenges the happy slave narrative, and emphasizes the importance of family. Episode Two shows the value of cross-cultural relationships, while Episode Three focuses on preservation of self, hope, family, and legacy. Episode Four demonstrated the realization of oppression, and Episode Five delves into the challenges and blessings of mixed-race identity.

The series began as an official project of the Missouri 2021 Bicentennial Commemoration and will continue through 2029, Arrow Rock’s Bicentennial. It is sponsored by the Friends of Arrow Rock in partnership with the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre.

Use the Voices of Arrow Rock Episode Guide to learn more about the series and view the episodes. The next episode, Consummate Showman, introduces us to Doc Brown, a formerly enslaved man from Arrow Rock who became a national champion cakewalker in the 1890s. It premieres at the Old School House on Main Street in Arrow Rock at 10 am on May 6, 2024.

The next application period ends with documentation due by March 1, 2024. Learn more>

Thanks to Rev. Dr. Michael Kateman for this information.