The Scottsboro Boys

It’s 1955. As an African-American woman sits on a bench waiting for the bus, memories begin to surface. The scene fades, and a troupe of minstrels arrive (“Minstrel March”). The Interlocutor-- the host of the minstrel show-- arrives and introduces two classic minstrel characters, Mr. Bones and Mr. Tambo, who perform an introductory song-and-dance to set the scene for their story (“Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey”). This is the story of the Scottsboro Boys, a group of young African-American men who are introduced by Mr. Bones, Mr. Tambo, and the Interlocutor. One of the Boys, Haywood, stands and asks the Interlocutor, “This time, can we tell the truth?" The Interlocutor agrees.

The scene shifts, once again -- this time to 1931. A train is traveling on its way to Memphis. Inside a boxcar are the Scottsboro Boys -- Clarence, Andy, Roy, Haywood, Ozie, Olen, Charles, Eugene, and Willie -- all hoping to find better lives for themselves on the other side of the journey (“Commencing in