UMHB C A M P U S L I F E
Prodigal
on stage
Assistant professor teams up with ABS to bring gospel play drama to campus Members of the community were treated to a heartwarming “dramedy” about faith, family, forgiveness, and the Father’s love this February. With the help of the Association of Black Students (ABS), KerryAnn Zamore-Byrd, UMHB assistant professor and director of social work field education, showcased her playwriting skills when the group brought her gospel stage play drama, “Prodigal,” to UMHB. Loosely based on the biblical parable of the prodigal son, her play explores the dynamics between two brothers and their aging father. It asks the question, 'Can we forgive the unforgettable?' “I wanted people to laugh and cry and truly understand the depth of how far Christ went to save us from our sins—that He is an amazing father and that He loves us unconditionally,”
Zamore-Byrd said. "I also wanted this play to impress on the hearts of the viewers that we should learn to forgive each other and have grace with each other because life is short.” Zamore-Byrd wrote “Prodigal” two years ago at the onset of the pandemic. “I thought of the many families who were isolated from each other and families who had lost loved ones with words unsaid,” she said. “I wanted to write something that would stir conversations of our faith, that no matter how far we think we have strayed, the Father is waiting with wide open arms for us to come home.” Her play was initially performed in church and live-streamed for viewers to enjoy from home. All the cast members are war veterans giving back to their communities through their participation.
Zamore-Byrd said the sales proceeds of the UMHB event went to ABS, which originally invited her to share the play on campus two years ago, but it got postponed due to the pandemic. “My company (KZAmore Enterprises) is faith-based, and the goal is to bring awareness and education and to share the word of God through the art,” Zamore-Byrd said. “I am thrilled and humbled to receive support from the community and am even more humbled that it’s right here at UMHB.” Pictured in top right, Kerry-Ann Zamore-Byrd, UMHB assistant professor and director of social work field education, prepares her cast and crew for the dress rehearsal of her gospel stage play drama, “Prodigal.” The Association of Black Students hosted the play at UMHB in February as part of Black History Month.
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