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A STAGED READING OF ‘Who Will Sing for Lena?’ tells the sometimes graphic story of the only woman ever to be executed by electric chair in Georgia, for killing a white man who had persistently abused and raped her. Baker maintained it was self-defense to the very end, but a miscarriage of justice saw her being put to death by a brutal system. Lena’s family and members of the Baptist church she attended, continue their battle with the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles to clear her name. There is no doubt that audiences will be moved by Liddell’s vivid account of Lena’s story and New Works’ performers Geneva Chapman and Grant Walker and director Imelda Hunt’s rendition of the play. Toledo produced an amazing group of artist not with standing, Liddell who graduated from Scott High School and gone on to be a professor at Clark Atlanta University but a world renowned playwright. New Works welcomes the opportunity to present her work in Toledo but also to be apart of The Lena Project. Women’s groups are already responding well to the project given its stark, truthful representations of a problem that sadly continues to plague many cities and countries, including other countries like Jamaica where the play will also be performed. ‘Who Will Sing for Lena?’ demands that society face the consequences of the continued abuse of its women.
Grant Walker and Kyna Kynard (standing), Curtis Smith (kneeling) and Joanne West
Grant Walker and Geneva Chapman in August 2004 Blueprint Production (reprinted by permission of the Truth)
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