Reviews

Temecula Museum 2012

I really enjoyed your performance in Temecula. It was wonderful!!! Hope to see it again when you perform in Los Angles this year. Enjoying your poetry book! You've done so much!!
Diane Wayne

Brookdale Community College 2011

Ms. McKnight, I must say your performance broke new ground for our EOF program. It stood as a centerpiece to our day and its message is timeless. I wish you well in all that you do and I hope we can connect again. I look forward to your new works and I am now one of your fans! You have my support for future events and I will be recommending you whenever that opportunity presents itself.
Take care and be well.
Richard Morales-Wright

University of Southern Maine 2011

E.P.

We are still receiving comments about your performance and how powerful it was. I really enjoyed out dinner with you and the students. You have a gift and know how to use it to impact others with a message of great importance. We are in this journey together, people like you and me, we have to be. Its a struggle, but we are re-energized when we meet a person like you. You gave me an added strength and I thank you for that. Its gets lonely....I am from the Penobscot Nation. We gather sweetgrass every year and use it for braids, earrings, and baskets, etc.
Let us know if you are in this part of the woods again. Maybe we could catch up. You will be in our thoughts and prayers as your journey continues!!
Be well my friend
Susan H. Evans
Coordinator, Multicultural Student Affairs & Native American

Ms. McKnight it was truly my honor to meet you. Domonique is wired over YOU. We saw your page and pictures...... very nice. Domonique is very excited by the last paragraph of your message, and so am I....... thank you! Mom was just about speechless when I told her of or meeting and the book and picture -- Mom is very touched. You are welcome on the Facebook.... my male friends said you are very beautiful. I didn't get to see your facebook post, though. Domonique and I will stay in touch. I believe God sends me places for a reason. The blessing for continued success is always with YOU!

Big Smiles,

Renee Berry-Huffman

Youngstown University 2011

Dear E. P.
Your ears must be burning! Bob and I have been telling everyone about your presentation. We hope and pray that you will be back in our area soon. Thank you so much for sharing your time and talents with us.
Yours-in-Stories
Jocelyn Dabney

Dear Ms. McKnight,
Your performance was truly fabulous. The YSU professor who came with me kept thanking me for letting him know about the event.I would love to have you come back to Youngstown! I'll work on this when I return.

Penny Wells

Penn State Harrisburg 2010 -2011

Ms. McKnight,

Phenomenal is the best adjective to describe your performance on Tuesday, March 22, 2011. My students were overwhelmed, although as you could see were a bit edgy and undisciplined for such a performance venue.

I do regret not being able to have a chance for an immediate Q& A with you. I immediately went on line read more about you and knew I needed to have some follow up with you professionally, and with my Theatre Arts students. I will be sending some of their comments to you in the next few days. I'm not quite sure of the the time difference from Cali to PA, but I would want to arrange the telephone conference at 8:30AM EST or 12:50 PM EST.

I do not have a website currentlt, but would like to send you some information about some of my previuos work in Theatre, as well as, vision for working in gospel ministry, tolerance and character education;performing arts i.e. djembe drumming, singing, and dramatic performance.

Please let me know if the times mentioned are condcuive for your schedule and what days of the week you may be available to shre with my students. Many thnaks again for you memorable performance of a "freedom fighter and warrior of the Christian faith", Fannie Lou Hamer. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Divine health and blessings to you,
Eric L. Jackson, Sr.
Theatre Arts Teacher,
Harrisburg High School
Harrisburg, PA

EP – The pleasure was truly ours. Your performance was amazing and I know the audience loved it. Thanks for all your good work ; and thank you for the picture. I think there is one in there that I actually like of myself.
Respectfully
Donna Howard, M.Ed.
Penn State Harrisburg

Hello Ms. McKnight, We are very thankful for the invitation and as we previously expressed our enjoyment of your wonderful talent! We also enjoy listening to your CD! You are truly amazing! Please let us know if you are ever back this way.
In Christ Love, Danetta Claybrook

Good Afternoon,
The gentleman’s name is Eric Jackson would love to have you speak to his class. I really enjoyed your presentation yesterday you were fabulous.
Have a great day
Stephanie White
Office of Student Affairs
Penn State Harrisburg

Loras College 2009

Hello EP!
Below is an article that was written in the Loras newspaper about the show.
"Performer brings civil-rights activists fight for equality to life"
by Deepa Sagar

“I Question America” is a powerful play written and performed by E.P. McKnight, a writer, poet and teacher who performed on campus last Thursday night. McKnight’s character in “I Question America” is Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer, a real-life voting-rights activist and civil-rights leader. Hamer, who was born in 1917, believed that everyone should be treated with dignity. While she respected Martin Luther King Jr., she also was her own person. Her personal experience in the South made her a strong role model and a source of strength for the society.
Hamer worked as a household servant to plantation owners and was not allowed to vote- though it was her right by law. In her mind, she was treated lower than a dog. When she asked to be treated as an equal, she said she often was beaten. Mrs. Fannie Lou was a powerful woman; she was determined to fight against injustice. She was also a very godly woman who possessed a natural talent that allowed her to speak whole-heartedly to the African-American community.
McKnight left everyone in the room in awe by her performance. It was so natural that, for a second, one could lose present day reality through her acting. When asked why she became involved with such a strong subject as freedom rights for blacks, the actress said she wanted to educate people about the struggles of minorities before and during the civil rights movement.
“We have heard a lot about Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks, but there are other strong individuals who have contributed just as much for justice and I want to educate my audience about it,” McKnight said.
Mishereen Ellis and Cindy Behnke, from the intercultural office of Loras College, made the effort to organize this event. “I had hoped more people would have come to enjoy such a great performance, but it was very nice to see that people in the audience seemed to really enjoy the performance,” Ellis said.

Wiliam Woods University 2009

RE: "I Question America-legacy of Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer
I Question America -Legacy of Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer is one of the best productions that has ever come to our campus. The goals, motivations, and drive behind Mrs. Hamer's fight for civil rights was brought to life through the thought provoking, captivating performance of E.P. McKnight. Many of our students, prior to the performance, had never heard of Mrs. Hamer, but since that time they have researched her, and in the spring of 2009, put together a trip to the south to retrace the steps of the Civil Rights Movement. This was truly a production that made a change in every person present. Over Spring Break, the campus chaplain and I took a group of students to the south to retrace the steps of the Civil Rights Movement, and while there we visited the National Civil Rights Museum, which is part of the Lorraine Hotel where King was killed. While there we came across an exhibit that honored women of the Civil Rights and they had an awesome display and tons of information on Fannie Lou Hamer. What was most awesome, several of the students came to get me to see it because they remembered your performance and recognized her name. The museum doesn't allow one to take pictures or to record anything, but I truly wish I could have gotten you some of the information from that featured exhibit, it was awesome.
Well, I pray all is well and that the Lord continues to bless you wherever you go and in whatever you present. Do stay in touch, I would love to have you come back and visit my church. :o)
God bless and keep you always.
Tamara Y. Carter

University of North Florida 2009

Subject: Re: Show at North Florida University
Hey LA Woman, EP,
Hope you ‘re home safe and sound. Thank you! X 1,000,000. Did we have a wonderful time ..or what?    I just got to my mailbox now……………the pictures from Jean captured your inspiring energy. Thank you for your beautiful adaptation of a great story. I really learned alot and was motivated by your performance. I will always remember it, Thank you for the pictures and a great time.
God blessed me with a twenty four hour “life altering experience” in the guise and spirit of Fannie Lou. My heart is singing….this little light of mine…da, dat, dah……..I’m gonna let it shine….. let it shine…….let it shine…….let it shine!!!!!!!!!   (And I will get my business cards….and sing for joy and prosperity)
Wow... thanks for the photos......I showed my husband Ray.....thank you for the great chat...wasn't E.P. inspiring in her role as Fanny?!.....
She really enjoyed meeting you at the performance...her heart is to inspire
her audiences..especially young people..that would be you....
Actually I feel very uplifted by E.P. and her character of Fanny....my joy
is singing...so she encouraged me to expand that expression..I will do
so........(I think Law practice is meaningful.....) What is very apparent to me is that God blessed "us" all last night.....don't you love when God shows His hand through the people placed on your path ..me too. God has a mighty plan on your life.....and you are a blessing... Warm regards to your girl friend, your friend Ray and the NFU gang.
OXOX
Mary Champagne Toast
Thank You

Dear Ms. McKnight
I just wanted to send you a short email about how much I, among with many others, appreciated your performance tonight at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. It was an incredible performance and I was fully inspired.
I have recomended you to the high school I attended in Radnor, Pennsylvania, and hope that your message may be shared there as well.
Thank you for all that you do,
Jessica Wood

NAACP presents @ Mary C. O"Keefe Cultural Ctr

Re: Interview @ Mary c. O"Keefe Cultural Center Wednesday, February 4, 2009 2:14 PM

Dear Ms. McKnight,
Thanks so much for your kind letter. The feeling is mutual -- I had a wonderful time meeting and chatting with you and talking about your show and background. You gave such a strong performance, and I'm very happy our magazine covered the event.
Since the issue won't come out until the first of March, the article isn't a review, but more of a profile on you, your acting background, Mrs. Hamer's historical importance, etc. Hopefully, it will also intrigue readers, so that anyone who missed the show will clamor for a repeat performance!
Looking forward to working with you again, down the line. And of course I'll see to it that you receive a copy once it hits the stands.
Yours truly,
Matt Pitt

From: "Biloxi Branch NAACP"
To: EP McKnight
Peolpe around here are still talking about how good it was and looking forward to seeing another play next year.
Biloxi Branch NAACP
James W. Crowell III, President

To: Eric @ Mary C. O"Keefe Center
I really enjoyed the play, I question America and have a suggestion. I think many others would have enjoyed it ,expecially high school students, - is there any way we can get her back next year? You could even charge admission.
Also, if possible , could you send me her email address. I wanted to personally thank her but had to leave early and she had a crowd around her. Also, my son lives in Los angelos and I was wondering if she ever puts the play on there.
Thanks, susan carranza

Hello EP.
I thoroughly enjoyed your show. I have been spreading the news about your performance to my family and friends. I have been telling them that I should have brought them with me. It is my hope to try to get something scheduled for next year (February, 2010) for the Magnolia Alumni Association. Will be in touch. Keep up the good work!!!
Debra G. Goldsmith
Program Coordinator
Labor Planning

Burbank Library 2009

RE: "I Question America - legacy of Mrs. Hamer"Monday, April 13, 2009 12:06 PM

“A compelling journey along the civil rights trail through one woman’s eyes. The choice of Fannie Lou Hamer as the vehicle for this trip is a fortunate one, showing vividly how one person’s engagement can create significant momentum. McKnight’s portrayal is nuanced and poignant.”
--Melissa Elliott
Senior Librarian—Young Adult Services
Burbank Public Library

Ventura College 2008 & 2009

I found E.P. McKnight's one woman performance portraying the life of Fannie Lou Hamer captivating, inspired, and informative. Before I attended this show I had no idea who Fannie Lou Hamer was. I may have heard the name but if I did that's all that it was to me; just a name.
Right from the very first words I was drawn in by McKnight's powerful and controlled voice. All of her movements confident and obviously well rehearsed. Fannie Lou Hamer is obviously an inspiration to McKnight. The passion with which she plays Hamer is contagious. McKnight's reenactment of the speeches filled me with the desire to make a change in the world and more importantly the idea that is entirely possible.

      As for the life of Fannie Lou Hamer, it is easy to see why one would be inspired by such an incredible story. It has all the elements of a heroic tale of fiction; Courage in the face of a seemingly unconquerable foe; perseverance through mentally and physically punishing defeats; then victory. Only this is not a tale of fiction. This is the one thing that sticks in my mind after the performance. The struggles of all of these people fighting for the betterment of humankind are not fiction they are real. This is the advantage of live performance over television or movies. To see a person in the flesh on stage has a power that can't be conveyed by recordings. This performance reinforced that it is not "IF" I can improve the world, but "HOW" am I going to improve the world.
                                                                                                Josh Smith
                                                                                                 Soc. Prob #41

Dear Ms. McKnight,

Thank you for bringing Fannie Lou Hamer to life on stage this past Monday at the Adams State College theater.

I was deeply moved by the power of your performance, and drawn in further by the very interesting question and answer session that followed. Fannie Lou's life is inspiring, but equally inspiring is your research and writing transformed into a one woman play.

As for the power that theater has to move and transform I'd like to offer one experience:

I thank you, again, for the bring the power of Fanny Lou Hamer's life story to Alamosa on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Civil Rights/Human Rights have been important to me since my youth but after I experienced job discrimination the stories have become even more important and more powerful.

Blessings on you as you continue to portray the life of Ms. Fanny Lou Hamer.
With My Gratitude,
Mary Elizabeth Van Pelt
Alamosa, CO

I've been thinking about you all day. First of all, what a tremendous talent our Lord has blessed you with. Tour de Force performance. All the characters were so fully realized...the men in particular were amazing as it's usually hard for women to be able to pull that off believably. My friend Karen said when you were playing the Preacher it made her think of Danny Glover because it had such power. Bravo!

Second, this is a part of history that I have never heard before. I was appalled and horrified at the atrocities that men are able to inflict on one another....and this within our lifetime... like the holocaust this is a story that needs to be passed onto future generations so that it never happens again...not that we are remotely out of the woods even now....hatred and racism of every kind are still sadly prevalent in our society...as is the attempt to control the vote...ie- hanging chads, all kinds of people predominantly the poor and the elderly being harrassed at polls..It hurts my heart. Thank you for having the courage to tell this story.

I pray to Jesus for an enlightenment of our world....but thank God we are Christians and will at least experience all God has for us after this troubled world.

I am so glad I came to see your performance! It brought tears to my eyes. I am old enough to remember seeing her at the convention, fighting for the right to be seated as a delegate!