Weirton, W.Va. — The Dunbar Recreation Center will honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 19, with a play reading and its annual MLK Walk.
The MLK Walk begins at 11 a.m. at Christ the King Family Worship Center, 3176 Weir Avenue, and ends at the Dunbar Recreation Center, 300 Kessel Street. Following the walk, the Center will present “Wanted by the FBI: James Earl Ray” at 12 p.m., with a luncheon to follow.
Performed in a Reader’s Theatre style, the play, co-sponsored by the Ohio Valley Cloak & Dagger Company, is a docudrama by writer and actor Pete Fernbaugh. It recounts the events surrounding Dr. King’s assassination in Memphis on April 4, 1968, the subsequent manhunt for James Earl Ray, and the ongoing legacy of Dr. King’s fight for equality.
“Most people know the general facts about Dr. King’s assassination,” Fernbaugh said. “What may not be remembered was the perfect storm that coalesced around the tragedy… Our goal remains the same: to present the historical facts within the context of Dr. King’s fight for equality and philosophy of nonviolence.”
The Wayward Saints theatrical troupe stars Jalen McCrary as Dr. King, Linda Spencer as Coretta Scott King, and David Gaudio as James Earl Ray. Rob DeSantis, Bethany Fernbaugh, Robert J. Gaudio, and Nathaniel McClendon also appear, with Bethany Fernbaugh and Malachi McClendon serving as Storytellers.
“The Dunbar Recreation Center is looking forward to honoring Dr. King on Monday,” said Earlean Jones, president of the Center. “If weather permits, join us at 11 a.m. for the walk, then stay for the luncheon and presentation.” She noted that the walk may be canceled in case of extreme cold, with updates posted on the Center’s and Cloak & Dagger Company’s Facebook pages.
“This is the fifth year our troupe has collaborated with Earlean and the Center on honoring Dr. King,” Fernbaugh said. “Part of our role as performers is to tell stories that raise social awareness. It’s our honor to be part of this celebration.”
Jones added, “This day is just a small part of Dr. King’s legacy and shows togetherness among all people. We want to promote this spirit of unity right here in Weirton.”
The Dunbar Recreation Center, officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021, serves as a hub for community events and cultural programs in Weirton.
