For Release: 2013-01-02 14:27:00
Through poetry and drama, Kentucky writer and Affrilachian poets founder Frank X Walker illuminates the life of 19th-century African-American jockey Isaac Murphy on the next Kentucky Muse. The program includes dramatic segments performed by Lexington Children’s Theatre and more. Kentucky Muse “I Dedicate This Ride” premieres Sunday, Jan. 20 at 3:30/2:30 p.m. on KET and Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 10:30/9:30 p.m. on KET2. Walker, who is a native of Danville, published “I Dedicate This Ride” in 2010, a book of poems in which he takes on the voice of Murphy, Murphy’s mother, his trainer Eli Jordan, and other influential people from Murphy’s life and career to tell the story of America’s most successful jockey in the 19th century and winner of three Kentucky Derbies. For the 2010 World Equestrian Games held in Lexington, the Lexington Children’s Theater commissioned Walker to write a stage production based on Murphy’s life. The play, which shares a title with Walker’s book of poetry on Murphy, centers on the African-American jockey struggling to deal with racial issues against the backdrop of the tremendous growth, popularity and subsequent ethnic cleansing of horse racing that occurred in the South after the Civil War. For the 2010 World Equestrian Games held in Lexington, the Lexington Children’s Theater commissioned Walker to write a stage production based on Murphy’s life. The play, which shares a title with Walker’s book of poetry on Murphy, centers on a family struggling to deal with racial issues against the backdrop of the tremendous growth, popularity and subsequent ethnic cleansing of horse racing that occurred in the South after the Civil War. Kentucky Muse “I Dedicate This Ride” is a KET production, produced by Tom Bickel. Teresa Day is executive producer. More information about Kentucky Muse is available at ket.org/muse. More information about KET programming and education services, as well as how to support KET, can be found at ket.org.
Contact: Abby Malik
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