A full production is on tap for the Saint Patrick School summer play.

The presentation will teach Meridian history and is entitled, “Meridian: A City that Would Not Die.”

All scenes presented on stage are documented facts.

The first scene, which features the Great Choctaw Nation, is portrayed by the sweet Saint Patrick School PK-3 and PK-4 students The students guided by teachers, Jennifer Grimes and Sue Drake, made their costumes. History has revealed that at least 1,000 Choctaw people attended the 1830 signing of The Dancing Rabbit Treaty.

Next Meridian’s first settlers, Richard and Nancy McLemore, portrayed by Saint Patrick first graders tell their story and introduce the attendees to the beginnings of Oaky Baptist Church (1850) and the new pastor plus all of the congregation portrayed by kindergarten and first grade students will be on stage.

The fifth grade class will introduce attendees to Dentzel Carousel with a dance and reciting of the famous landmark’s history. Next, fourth grade students take the stage portraying early beginnings of the railroad. “It’s official. The Mobile & Ohio Railroad is coming.” The students tell the early Meridian railroad history story through song and dance.

But who should arrive just as the railroad dance concludes, but the Singing Brakeman, Jimmie Rodgers, Father of Country Music, and he has brought along the fifth grade Dancing Girls as he belts out “I love the Women. I Love Them All the Same” which is known as the famous singer’s “Last Blue Yodel” song.

The date, February 14, 1864, should bring a shudder to all Meridianites because that is the fateful day that General Sherman marched into our city, during the American Civil War, and burned it to the ground, only leaving a few dwellings intact. However citizens immediately began to rebuild and it is documented that the few remaining people rebuilt the railroad tracks within 26 days.

Also the fifth grade students remember that terrible time with a presentation featuring Readers Theatre:

Destroyed: 55 miles of railroad, 53 bridges, 6075 feet of trestle, 60 miles of road, cross ties burned, iron rails bent, 19 locomotives, 28 railroad cars, 3 steam sawmills, poultry, hogs, furniture, groceries, jewelry and valuables of every sort.

Presentations continue which include Gypsy Queen Kelly Mitchell, the Great Depression, the Grand Opera House, Haven Institute, Union Railroad Station, WWI, WWII and Korean War also remembered as “Letters from Home.” It was a time of letter-writing, which might have been the best communication of all.

When the Great Depression scene takes the stage, your heart will break to witness the many children who marched, at the time, with handwritten signs such as “Give My Daddy a Job.” But your heart will recover to learn of the generosity displayed by many Meridianites who were fortunate to have employment and who as well pledged one percent of their salaries to local unemployed.”

Do you remember the 1950s ole Rock-N-Roll song “At the Hop?” The fifth graders will once again allow the audience the enjoyment of the Bop, the Twist and the Jive as they dance the night away dressed in poodle skirts and letter jackets.

The finale includes Kindergarten through Sixth grade students with an entertaining song/dance rendition of Kool & the Gang’s “Celebration.” Why “Celebration,” because the students have something to celebrate. The entire student body, on May 16, will have taught YOU, yes, I said taught you the history of Meridian by the interpretation of Meridian history through the art of drama, song and dance. Something the students will never forget and as well I’m sure those in attendance.

So what is this all about? It is teaching documented Meridian history to Meridian school students. This play is interactive with the audience, includes the arts of drama, song, dance and music but more importantly, I think, are the stories of those who first came to this area and those who survived tragedy and heartache to make, indeed, “Meridian: A City that Would Not Die.”

Come and support a local school, Saint Patrick School.

What: Saint Patrick Summer Play

When: 6 p.m. on May 16

Anne B. McKee is a Mississippi historian, writer and storyteller. She is listed on the Mississippi Humanities Speakers Bureau and Mississippi Arts Commission’s Performing Artist and Teaching Artist Rosters. See her web site: www.annemckeestoryteller.com