Asbury University is putting on a play that is generating some buzz around the school in Wilmore. “40 Acres” is a show about racial reconciliation. It follows two families—one Black, one white—as they navigate questions of belonging, justice, and reconciliation within their church community.
Jim Shores is a professor of communication and theater at Asbury. He wrote the play and said audiences have been responding well to the message of the show.
“Black and white audiences, people of different political persuasions, and all of them feel like their point of view is represented,” Shores said, “but not one point of view gets privileged except for maybe that message of 'How do I love my neighbor as I love myself,' and 'Who is my neighbor?'”
It's performed by students, alumni, faculty, and community actors from Lexington and Louisville who have made a good community through the journey of this show.
Shores said the show is getting a good response and is excited to see where the play goes from here.
“It was written as a conversation starter for what's called the CCCU, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. It will be marketed to them, but it was also picked up, it was optioned as a screenplay by Faith Filmworks, which is a production company in Los Angeles,” he said.
“40 Acres” was awarded a Calvin Institute Worship Grant and CREO Worship Grant to launch this production.
The show has one final performance this afternoon, at 2:00 pm in the Miller Communication Arts Building on Asbury's Campus.
