James C. Wright Middle School celebrated its tenth anniversary on Sunday, April 6th with an original play about the life of the school's namesake, James C. Wright. The play was written by seventh grade teacher Steven Stack and was titled: "James C. Wright: A Life Lived for Others".

Fifteen student actors participated in a third quarter drama class that prepared them for a live show in front of a full house of supportive families, staff and community members.

The play was created as a result of a year of staff and student inquiry about the life of James C. Wright. Students interviewed people that knew him and worked with him, collected news articles, sermon notes, photographs and other artifacts that told the story of his important life as a social activist and pastor on the south side of Madison.

With generous donations from Full Compass, Wright's gymnasium became a professional venue with a stage, lighting and sound. Student actors provided extraordinary performances, and the school community learned a great deal about how much James C. Wright meant to people of Madison.

Mother Jackie Wright, sitting in the front row, was central to the student and staff's learning about her husband. She generously provided photographs and stories, and was fully involved in the past two years of work preparing for this event. WYOU also generously taped the event that will feature on Cable access Channel 4.

Following the play, a gallery of student work showcased Wright Middle School's charter focus on social action. This included the unveiling of a book written by school social worker, Monica Wightman, titled James C. Wright: The Man, His Work, His Legacy. This book acts as a legacy product that will continue to teach and inspire students to learn about and participate in social action in their communities.

Jason Russell and Vincent Willis-Smith, 8th grade students from Wright Middle School. The scene shows Jason Russell (left) playing young Reverend Wright and Vincent Willis-Smith (right) playing Ben Parks. They are talking in Jim Wright's barber shop that was called Jimmy and Jackie Beauty and Barbershop in the 1960's (currently called Style and Grace on Taft Street). Jim is ready to sell the shop to accept his position as the Director of the Equal Opportunities Commission. Jim knows that Ben wants to buy the shop, but loans are hard to come by. So, he offers Ben the barbershop on trust and a handshake, with a "pay as you go" arrangement. This is a true story that was recounted by both Mother Jackie Wright, his wife, and Ben Parks himself.

Pictured is the cast of the "James C. Wright: A Life Lived for Others"