XULA Alumna Tommye Myrick (‘74) is directing the play “Fly,” which opened on February 3 at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center in Metairie, Louisiana. The play, performed for the first time in New Orleans, tells the story of four Tuskegee Airmen set primarily in the summer of 1943.

The Tuskegee Airmen refers to the group of Black airmen trained in Tuskegee, Alabama, to serve as part of the 332nd Fighter Group of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Written by Trey Ellis and Ricardo Khan, “Fly” depicts their training before combat and uses their experiences as a reference point for other African American trials and triumphs. 

For Myrick, the play holds special significance.  

“I have always wanted to champion the disenfranchised through theater,” Myrick said. “Every play I have ever directed has some type of a social justice message attached. I want to bring attention, not just entertainment, and educate and enlighten [attendees] in a thought-provoking way.” 

To help invoke this thoughtfulness, a photographic exhibit called “Souls of Valor” was established in the lobby of the Jefferson Performing Arts Center as part of the production. Myrick explains that it will have the faces of hundreds of Tuskegee Airmen and other Black and African American soldiers that fought in World War II. Curated by Jim Thorns and Aldon McDonald, the exhibit will show men and women of color on the front lines of war, in both their youth and old age. It will also feature donated audio and video footage and interviews of World War II veterans.  

In 2000, New Orleans’ National World War II Museum, then called the National D-Day Museum, opened with the largest military parade in the nation since the end of World War II, but without any representation of veterans of color. In response, Myrick penned a letter called “We Were There” published in the Times-Picayune Newspaper calling for a boycott of the museum for ignoring the contributions of soldiers of color.  

“America has much to learn from these voiceless brave souls who fought to keep America free.” Myrick recently stated to news outlets. “Despite a system of government that denied them full citizenship, they heeded the call to arms to defend and protect this country. Their sacrifice and courage must never be forgotten, omitted, or diminished.” 

Museum officials invited Myrick and other social justice advocates to attend a meeting in hopes of rectifying the issue. When asked what they wanted, Myrick and her companions responded that they wanted a parade honoring the contributions of soldiers of color. Myrick emphasized that America was still highly segregated at World War II’s end. Soldiers of color were quickly ushered onto buses to return home instead of being celebrated and allowed to join in on the celebrations.   

In 2001, the parade they fought for happened. Myrick fondly explains that she still gets chills remembering her view of the older soldiers, who had never been celebrated in such a way as veterans of World War II, ride and wave in the parade. 

Myrick credits some of her passion to her time spent at Xavier and encourages other students to attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities.   

“I’m so proud of Xavier and so happy to be a Xavierite,” said Myrick. “Xavier has come a long way, but it has always been a distinguished HBCU. It’s always been the one that had the highest level of expectations for its students.” 

After graduating from Xavier, Myrick attended the University of Michigan, obtaining her master’s degree. She later moved to New York City and began studying with her lifelong mentor and friend, renowned theater director and producer Gene Frankel. She made her stage and directorial debut in New York City, but years later returned to her hometown of New Orleans to continue her work as a director, producer, writer, educator, and historian.  

According to Myrick, the play was initially written as a short for students to perform but was commissioned in 2005 by the Lincoln Center Institute to be expanded into a full-length play. One of the writers, Ricardo Khan, was the artist-in-residence at the Lincoln Center Institute.  

Myrick hopes that this play will bring together the residents of Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish in learning about the contributions of some of the Tuskegee Airmen. She describes how she wanted her directorial debut in Jefferson Parish to educate her audience, particularly on the impact African Americans made to the freedoms and liberties in the country while having to endure their own hardships.  

The use of a “griot” is especially significant in telling the story from the perspective of the disenfranchised African American soldiers. A griot is a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, or musician. “Fly” utilizes the character as a dancer that shows the true emotions of the Airmen as they are belittled and minimized by their superior officers. The actual Tuskegee Airmen were also unable to voice their true feelings due to the unjust treatment of Blacks. 

“He only speaks once,” Myrick warns. “And when he does, you don’t forget it.” 

Visit the Jefferson Performing Arts Center website for tickets and learn more about the all-local cast and crew.