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Baltimore Theater Company Has Musical About 'Change'

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- An independent theater company in Baltimore designed to share original works takes on a musical about "Change."

Gigi Barnett explains.

In 1963, the deep south struggled with future change. It's the theme of "Caroline, or Change," a musical performed by the Still Pointe Theater, an independent artists' group at Emmanuel Episcopal Church.

Theresa Cunningham has the lead role as Caroline, a maid in Lake Charles, Louisiana grappling with serving the Jewish family who hired her and protesting the discrimination rampant in her hometown.

"It's set right in November and December of 1963, so it takes you right through JFK's death and into the aftermath," Cunningham said.

But the "Change" in this performance has several meanings. There's a new stepmother in the household who offers Caroline all the coins from her son's pants instead of a raise. But Cunningham says the change Caroline wants is priceless.

"A lot of the show is about her struggle with change with seeing her daughter involved in the protest movement and seeing her best friend going to school and learning and trying to be something other than a maid," she said.

In an effort to fill seats, the 18-member cast chose the musical to spark conversation and thought. Cunningham says seeing the play could lead to more change, years after the Civil Rights Movement.

"It's an absolutely wonderful production. It's moving, it's entertaining and I guarantee you'll come out of it changed yourself," she said.

Kudos to Cunningham, who recently won the Helen Hayes Award for her role in "The Color Purple" at Toby's Dinner Theater.

The last performance of "Caroline, or Change" is Sunday night.

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