Free to Be… You and Me

Arts Locale - July 2024

On July 12-13, help celebrate the hard work of 16 amazing local children and teens as they take to the stage for a performance based on the ground-breaking 1972 record album.

- by Connie Voight

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It’s been 52 years since Marlo Thomas’s path-breaking record album, Free to Be… You and Me, hit the charts. Little attention has been paid to the album and its related book since they premiered, which is very surprising. If you were born between 1960 and 1970, you’re sure to remember the album, the book, and maybe even the television special. When released, the album sold hundreds of thousands of copies, and the book won an American Library Association Award and became a best seller. The television special received both Emmy and Peabody Awards.
 
Free to Be… You and Me was released in an extraordinary moment of feminist activism. The authors recognized the stifling attitude of then-current gender education. Children’s books had more boy protagonists, and those boys tended to be more active and engaged in the world. Girl protagonists often began as “tom-boys” but adopted more traditional female behavior patterns by the end of the story.
 
Ms. Thomas certainly observed these patterns but developed the concept of Free to Be… You and Me for more personal reasons. She was disturbed by the books her niece was reading and was unable to find alternatives. Thomas was friends with co-creator Letty Pogrebin, an editor at Ms. Magazine who had already become involved in the effort to publish “stories for free children.” Together, they worked toward creating something that not only defied then-current gender stereotypes, but also sent a message of empowerment to all children. They wanted to send the message that any child could grow up to be firefighters, nurses, soldiers, and moms or dads.
 

 
Thomas was a well-known television personality, due in part to the work of her father, Danny Thomas. Because of this and her own connections, she was able to gather an amazing cadre of artists to participate in the project. These talented folks included Harry Belafonte, Alan Alda, Carol Channing, Mel Brooks, Diana Ross, Rosey Greer, Shirley Jones, and Tom Smothers. In addition to these amazing stars, Thomas also enlisted the help of authors and composers such as Shel Silverstein, Carl Reiner, Peter Stone, Dan Greenberg, Judy Blume, Bruce Hart, Mary Rodgers, Sheldon Harnick, Judith Violist, and more.
 
While it took a long time for society to catch up, we see constant evidence of the evolution of gender roles in literature for youth. Walt Disney began with works showcasing a rather whimpering female lead character saved by the bold prince, but has added wonderful stories like Mulan, Frozen, Coco, and Encanto. I like to think that Free to Be… You and Me was an early precursor to the creation of powerful gender roles for women.
 
Opening Friday, July 12, Music, Arts, and Practicality (M.A.P.) will be staging Free to Be… You and Me at Main Street United Methodist Church in Bay St. Louis. In the aftermath of Katrina, when all efforts were focused on recovery, M.A.P. was formed when a team of citizens took action to provide arts activities that had not yet been restored to the schools. Since its inception, the non-profit has provided free theatre-based activities to children in Hancock County and along the Gulf Coast. M.A.P. operates solely on state grants, ticket sales, benefactors, and individual and corporate sponsors.
 
Bring the family to see this delightful show filled with toe-tapping tunes, hilarious skits, and sweet stories. Performed by a cast of 16 kids ranging in age from 7-18, you won’t regret spending a little bit of time in support of the oldest children’s theatre organization in Hancock County. Show dates and times are July 12 and 13 at 7:00 pm, with a matinee on July 13 at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $6 for students and $10 for adults. Come beat the heat and spend Second Saturday in the air-conditioned Rebecca Hall at Main Street United Methodist Church in Bay St. Louis.
 
This special cast, two-thirds of whom have never before been in a play or musical, have worked hard this summer learning the craft of theatre while also rehearsing the show. Most of the children have never sang, danced, or acted. Their blossoming knowledge will be on full display for all our audiences. We hope you’ll join us to celebrate their hard work!
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