Reading to be held at Barter

October 19, 2025 @ Barter Theatre

Barter Theatre announces the new Co-Directors of Barter's Black Stories Black Voices Initiative: James Jiggetts and Geovonday Jones.

Jiggettshas been an actor, costumerand choreographer at Barter since graduating from Emory & Henry with a BFA in Musical Theater. Barter audiences have enjoyed his work onstage in roles as varied as Kristoff in "Frozen"to John Thornton in "The Call of the Wild."

Jones is an assistant professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign whose acting and directing work has been seen around the nation at theaters such as The Black Rep, The Penguin Rep, The Tankand more. Barter audiences know him from Barter's Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights. Barter is happy to have these two incredible artists at the helm of BSBV, overseeing its mission, visionand local/national outreach.

As their first act as co-directors, James and Geovonday present the reading of "Faster Than the Speed of Race", the story of the first Black NASCAR driver, Wendell Scott, Oct. 19. Originally premiered as a single monologue at Barter’s Shine: Illuminating Black Stories event in 2023, the night will mark the first full-length reading of playwright Russell Nichols' story.

Faster Than the Speed of Race is a high-speed ride — one act, no brakes — through the life of NASCAR legend Wendell Scott. With his loyal crew and beloved stock car, Baby Blue, Scott races against reckless engines and the relentless injustices of Jim Crow to become the first Black man to claim victory at NASCAR’s highest level. More than a sports story, this play is about one man’s unstoppable drive to break barriers before they could break him.

This event is free to the public, and seats will be given on a first-come, first-served basis; reservations are encouraged. For more information or to RSVP, visit www.bartertheatre.com or call the Box Office at (276) 628-3991 and a Patron Service Expert will be happy to help.

Category: Theatre

x