A multimedia piece exploring the music, images, and spirit of mid-century America.
PRESENTED LIVE: Pushcart will provide a study guide connected to our live performance of LIFT EVERY VOICE: A LETTER TO THE EDITOR.
Available February-June 2026
(Ideal for Grades 4 through 8)
This project is cosponsored by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation and made possible through funding from the IOLTA Fund of the Bar of New Jersey. For additional information about the Foundation’s other law-related activities, please visit the Foundation’s website at njsbf.org.
“Lift Every Voice…” celebrates the courage and resilience of everyday Americans during the Civil Rights Movement.
The story centers on Junebug, a 12-year-old boy in the 1960’s South, who learns of James Meredith’s attempt to enroll as the first African American at the University of Mississippi. When the editor of “The Oxford Eagle,” a local newspaper, expresses her negative opinions on integration, Junebug takes matters into his own hands and confronts these views, speaking out for equality and inclusion.
This play with music offers a pathway to understanding and compassion for young learners. Historical touchstones include the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Little Rock Nine, the Greensboro sit-ins, and the Civil Rights Movement.
The production resonates with the voice in each of us to fight against injustice.
Playwright – Tylie Shider
Orchestrations – Khy Garner
Director – Paul Whelihan
Musical Director – Christynn Morris
Music Production / Soundtrack – Sam Tucker
Media Designers – Ashvin Kapoor, Paul Whelihan
Media Production – Serena Buchan, Felicity D. Selby
Costume Designer – Ellen Beattie
Technical & Scenic Designer – Floyd Bussie
Photo Gallery
