Area NAACP Branches Praise "Fishy Waters" at Crossroads Theatre

The New Brunswick Area and the Metuchen-Edison Area NAACP Units recently presented a resolution to celebrate Guy Davis’ original one man show, The Adventures of Fishy Waters: In Bed with the Blues, and to welcome “The First Family of Performing arts for Human and Civil Rights” to New Jersey.

Created by Guy Davis over the past 20 years, the spirited Fishy Waters is an itinerant bluesman, who recounts his adventures as a hobo aboard a boxcar in 1930's America.

“There is no tale so tall I cannot tell it, nor  song so sweet I cannot sing it,” he says as he invites the audience to join him on his journey.

Davis grounds audiences in the roots of the blues with wonderful storytelling about things that are funny, serious and ugly – from the sadistic to the hilarious. He accompanies his blues with powerful and soulful guitar playing, as well as awesome performances on the harmonica, or “mouth-organ.” 

New Brunswick and Metuchen-Edison NAACP salute for outstanding regional theatre committed to literary works that portray the African American experience for understanding and appreciation by all people, and its production of The Adventures of Fishy Waters: In Bed With the Blues helps to advance that mission.

Crossroads Ricardo Khan and Marshall Jones III, producing artistic director, made a presentation from New Brunswick Mayor James M. Cahill, proclaiming Feb. 18, 2012 “Davis Family Day”

Guy Davis was last seen on the Crossroads stage in the original work Two Ha Ha’s and a Homeboy with his parents, Ruby Dee and the late Ossie Davis.

Dee and Davis were named to the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame in 1989. Their deep involvement in the civil rights movement is characterized by their significant role in organizing the 1963 civil rights March on Washington. Davis delivered the eulogy at the 1965 funeral of Malcolm X.

Dee was awarded along with her late husband the Lifetime Achievement Freedom Award, presented by the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. Dee and Davis acted together many times, receiving between them Grammy, Emmy, Obie, Drama Desk, SAG and SAG Lifetime Achievement Awards and the National Medal of Arts. Davis received an honorary doctorate from New Jersey’s Kean University. Davis and Dee wrote the joint autobiography, In This Life Together. Davis died in 2005.

The production is directed by Ricardo Khan, Crossroads Co-founder and advisor.  Susan Settles, Crossroads Director of Audience Development, continues to work with Reggie Johnson, President of the Metuchen-Edison NAACP and Bruce Morgan, President of the New Brunswick NAACP, to produce resolutions of congratulations and welcome for productions that have a special place in the civil rights movement.

In April 2011 the New Brunswick and Metuchen-Edison NAACP presented a resolution of congratulations and welcome at Crossroads Production of A Raisin in the Sun and to Mamie Hansberry Mitchell and the Family of Lorraine Hansberry. Janice Harris Jackson, former New Jersey NAACP State Education Chair, is a special consultant to these projects.                                             

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization; its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities.

New Brunswick and Metuchen-Edison NAACP strongly encourage you to get tickets ($50) for The Adventures of Fishy Waters: In Bed With the Blues by contacting Crossroads on-line at: www.CrossroadsTheatreCompany.org or call 732-545-8100. Hurry because this wonderful production closes on Sunday, Feb. 26.

-New Brunswick Area NAACP and the Metuchen-Edison NAACP