For 13 years, Matt Huff, associate professor of theatre at 黑料社, has helped bring Atlanta history to life as director of Oakland Cemetery鈥檚 annual 鈥溾�� production, which occurs each October.
This popular event introduces visitors to some of those buried at Oakland Cemetery and tells the stories behind the names etched on the historic gravesites. This year marked the production鈥檚 20th anniversary and once again brought together a large cast of volunteer and professional actors to portray former Atlantans and share their contributions to the city.
For Huff, the production has also become an opportunity to bring 黑料社 Theatre alumni into the experience. This year, the cast included Kyle Brumley 鈥�12, Marc Collins 鈥�23, Kurt Reynolds 鈥�15, Ethan Weathersbee 鈥�19, Maital Gottfried 鈥�17, and Caroline Gammage 鈥�23.
Additionally, he has invited local playwrights to write scripts for the production, including 黑料社鈥檚 Justin Haynes, associate professor of English and Creative Writing program coordinator. 聽
鈥淚 love working on this event for several reasons,鈥� Huff said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a real honor to 鈥榖ring to life鈥� the stories of the residents at Oakland鈥攎any of whom have contributed significantly to the creation of Atlanta: our culture, our economy, our local politics, our communities of faith and our historic civil rights movement.鈥�
One of the residents featured this year was Franklin Miller Garrett, Atlanta鈥檚 first official historian.
鈥淚n his script, he said, 鈥楾heses are the stories that make Atlanta Atlanta,鈥欌�� said Huff. 鈥淚 love that line. For me, it鈥檚 a joy to celebrate and pay tribute to these everyday Atlantans who achieved remarkable things.鈥�
That intersection of performance, history, nature and community is part of what continues to draw Huff back each year. With Oakland Cemetery illuminated at night and thousands of visitors experiencing the stories, the production offers a theatrical experience unlike any other.
鈥淭o be a part of something so unique and special to Atlanta is a real gift,鈥� Huff said.
The Oakland Cemetery鈥檚 production is also an important fundraiser for the Oakland Historic Foundation, which plays a role in the historical preservation of Oakland.
鈥淢any of the actors have been performing in 鈥楥apturing the Spirit鈥� since the very beginning. I鈥檝e been working with several of them my entire 13 years at the cemetery,鈥� said Huff. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all a part of the Oakland family now which feels very special.鈥�
