Curriculum Connections
Oral history, storytelling, African American history, immigration, Social Emotional Learning.
Common Core Standard, ELA
8.RL.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.
11-12.RI.6: Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text, which the rhetoric is particularly effective, analyzing how style and content contribute to the power, persuasiveness, or beauty of the text.
Artistic Team
Written by David Gonzalez
Performance and additional text by Daniel Carlton
Music performed by David Gonzalez
FINDING NORTH brings to life the powerful stories of the strivings, sacrifices and dreams of John P. Parker, a former enslaved man who dedicated his life to helping enslaved people escape through the Underground Railroad in southern Ohio. Drawn from historical research, Parker’s tale is woven together with verbatim interview material and oral histories from contemporary community members who tell their stories of searching for haven. A timely and provocative contribution to the national conversation about prejudice, privilege, and human rights, Finding North is both an exploration and celebration of the continuing quest for justice and freedom in America.
Originally written by David Gonzalez and commissioned by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park to celebrate the opening of Cincinnati's Underground Railroad Freedom Center, FINDING NORTH has been updated through the collaboration of David Gonzalez with performer/director Daniel Carlton. Carlton captivates the audience with his one-man performance of John Parker and all the other characters, while accompanied by Gonzalez playing blues guitar. Each performance concludes with a dynamic audience talk-back.
