'Fearless': Titusville Playhouse celebrates legacy of Brevard civil rights heroes

In a change of pace from all the Halloween-themed entertainment in Brevard this time of year, Titusville Playhouse in cooperation with the Moore Cultural Complex and Museum will offer a touching and relevant production based upon true events that took place in our own backyard. "Fearless: The Harry T. Moore Story" will run for one weekend only, October 13 through 15.

Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore were Brevard residents who were influential in the early civil rights movement in Florida. Mr. Moore lead voting drives that registered Black voters throughout the 1930s and 40s, helped to establish dozens of NAACP chapters and served as a vocal advocate against racial violence.

The husband and wife, both educators, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on Christmas Day, 1951. That night, a bomb exploded under the bedroom of their Mims home. Mr. Moore was killed in the blast, and Mrs. Moore died nine days later.

The play tells the story of that eventful night and its aftermath.

"The play is a glimpse of the last night of the family on Christmas Eve," said Steven J. Heron, executive and artistic director of Titusville Playhouse. "It shows how the family was celebrating Christmas, and how quickly life can turn into tragedy."

"My hope is that the audience will feel the love of the family and see how they were just celebrating the holiday moments before their lives were changed forever."

The one-act play will be presented with an intermission, after which audiences can stay to continue the conversation at a talkback session with the actors and a representative from the Moore Cultural Complex and Museum.

When the museum approached the playhouse about producing the show, Heron knew it was a worthy project.

"I felt this was such an amazing story to be told that I made room for the show," he said. "I really wanted to produce it so we could make awareness in our community."

"National events can easily be lost to history unless we tell these stories, and keep telling them, so they are always remembered and we can learn from them," Heron said.

If you go

'Fearless: The Harry T. Moore Story'

Where: Titusville Playhouse, 301 Julia Street, Titusville

When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13 and 14, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 14 and 15

Tickets: Start at $20

Info: 321-268-1125

On the web: titusvilleplayhouse.com

About the Moore Cultural Complex: Civil rights museum board and county reach agreement in 'productive' meeting after lockout

'Gathered here to celebrate greatness': Moores honored at annual graveside service

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Christina LaFortune is the Entertainment and TGIF Editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/christinalafortune or send her an email at clafortune@floridatoday.com.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 'Fearless: The Harry T. Moore Story' at Titusville Playhouse