Trio of siblings excited about roles in BCC play MIDDLETOWN - Three siblings who have been cast in Brookdale Community College's first African-American production said they feel privileged to be a part of history. Brookdale's Performing Arts Center (PAC) will pay tribute to February as Black History Month with the powerful drama of a young black man wrongly accused and placed on death row. "A Lesson Before Dying," based on the Oprah Book Club selection by novelist Ernest J. Gaines, will be presented Feb. 15 and 22 at 10 a.m., Feb. 16, 17, 23 and 24 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 18 and 25 at 4 p.m. The story of "A Lesson Before Dying" centers on Jefferson, an innocent young man condemned to death in the 1948 Louisiana backwoods. At the trial, Jefferson's lawyer, trying to save his life, calls him no more a human being than a hog. In prison, Jefferson acts like one, insisting that he will be dragged like that hog to his death. His godmother asks a schoolteacher, Grant Wiggins, to teach him to die like a man. Struggling to quit his poor parish school and leave the south, Wiggins faces both Jefferson and himself as the execution day arrives. Terrance Hardman, 15, Miles Hardman, 13, and Joy Hardman, 11, of Marlboro, have been cast as school children in Wiggins' fourth grade class. The Hardman siblings have had previous acting experience at the Harlem School of the Arts; Terrance also attends the Freehold Regional High School District's Fine and Performing Arts Academy at Howell High School. Joy said she enjoys acting because she likes to entertain people and make people laugh. "I love the feeling of being on stage and the experience," the youngster said. Terrance, whose inspiration for acting is Will Smith, made a sacrifice to be a part of the play by cutting off the afro he had been growing for four years. The children's mother, Felicia Hardman-Stradford, said she is proud that her children can be a part of this experience. She added that the play is important, especially during Black History Month. "To see something here locally that is cultural, I'm proud that we have something like that in the community," Hardman-Stradford said. "I'm glad to see that diversity and that my children can be a part of something like this." The play, which is set in Louisiana, holds a special place in Hardman-Stradford's heart because her family is from New Orleans. Joy said she believes the play will be a great experience for her and her brothers and that they are making history at Brookdale by being a part of the first African-American production at the college. Joy agreed with her mother's sentiments that the play is especially important during Black History Month because it shows the prejudice and racism that existed in the south in the 1940s. Terrance added, "I feel privileged that [the director] decided to cast me in the play. Hopefully this will lead to something bigger." Director Darrell Lawrence Willis Sr., of Howell, will make his Brookdale directing debut with the Romulus Linney play marking the 30th anniversary of Brookdale's PAC, coinciding with the college's 40th anniversary. "Oprah's designation as a 'must read' catapulted the novel to the instant classic level for general high school reading. It speaks about the way you live life and the quality of that life," said Willis, who will become the first African-American to direct a play at Brookdale. "The 1948 post-World War II setting was a time where the military was just being desegregated, 'separate but equal' education was not equal, and Brown vs. Board of Education was still eight years away." The play was produced as an HBO special with Don Cheadle and Cicely Tyson in leading roles. The play dramatizes the power of grace and resistance in the life of a young man and a community galvanized around the cause of teaching him how to die with dignity and reclaim his life. The Brookdale cast features Moses Wright, Freehold Borough, in his first acting role cast as Jefferson, the wrongly accused young black man. Grant Wiggins, the school teacher who teaches him to die like a man, will be portrayed by Laden Thompson, Newark. Lorraine Stone, Eatontown, a professional story teller active in area events, will play Emma Glenn. Brookdale theater veteran Ramon James Morris, Long Branch, will play the Rev. Moses Ambrose. Leah Johnson, Asbury Park, has performed in Brookdale student one-act plays and portraying Vivian Baptiste will undertake her first major Brookdale production role, as will Orry Katz, Oakhurst, playing Paul Bonin. David Joyner, Toms River, will play Sam Guidry. Understudy Brandon Allerntoll, Howell, has appeared in one-act plays. Ticket prices are $18 for general admission; $15 for seniors (62 and over) and non-BCC students and children; and $5 for BCC students with valid ID. Parking is most convenient in lot No. 2. For additional information, individual and group ticket purchases, call the PAC box office at (732) 224-2411. - Tali Israeli