“Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock” unravels the life
of a forgotten Civil Rights activist
February 12, 2013 – (Jacksonville, FL ) – Stage Aurora Theatrical Company along with Southern Arts, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts presents “Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock” with Director and Producer, Sharon La Cruise as part of the South Arts Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers Stage Aurora Performance Hall. on March 23, 2013 at 1pm. Following a screening of her feature film, “Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock,” La Cruise and the audience will engage in a discussion about the film and her work as a filmmaker.
“Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock” tells the story of a seven-year journey by filmmaker Sharon La Cruise, to unravel the life of a forgotten civil rights activist named Daisy Bates. In 1957, Bates became a household name when she fought for the right of nine black students to attend the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Bates’ public support culminated in a constitutional crisis—pitting a president against a governor and a community against itself. As head of the Arkansas NAACP and protector of the nine students, Daisy Bates would achieve instant fame as the drama played out on national television and in newspapers around the world. Ultimately the fame would prove fleeting, and for her attempts to remain relevant, she would pay a hefty price. This documentary travels with Daisy Bates on her long and lonely walk from orphaned child to newspaperwoman to national Civil Rights figure to her last days in Little Rock.
“Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock” as part of The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers will be presented Saturday, October 20 at 1:00pm in the Stage Aurora Performance Hall (inside the Gateway Town Center – across from the Supervisor of Elections) 5188 Norwood Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32208. For information please contact Stage Aurora at (904) 765-7372.