Jesse Mattox and Henry Ford College Theatre cast in "Dear Harvey." Photo courtesy of HFC Theatre.

On Nov. 15, the HFC Theatre program presented its production of “Dear Harvey,” based on interviews with friends and family of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected for office in the state of California. As a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Milk became an icon of the gay rights movement. He ran several campaigns while advocating for the rights of his community. After eleven months in office, he was assassinated. “Dear Harvey” is a tribute to his memory and boundless vision of hope.

Dear Harvey is directed by Dr. John-Michael Sefel, with music composed by Thomas Hodges. Playwright Patricia Loughrey included dialogue from speeches, letters, and articles. These stories were brought to life by a group of actors, each playing Harvey Milk along with other characters. For this production, HFC Chorus Director Amy Saari and her students recorded their version of the song “Thou Lord Our Refuge.” The song plays during the portrayal of a candlelight march following Milk’s murder. Dear Harvey has collaborated with the Sexuality and Gender Acceptance (SAGA) club and SAFE@HFC to provide support to LGBT+ students and allies.

Shortly before he was assassinated by supervisor Dan White, Harvey Milk spoke about his death privately in a tape recording. His role as an openly gay public figure brought on violent death threats. Milk knew he would be killed and that he must choose a successor to the city supervisor position. In an audio recording, he said, “If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.”

The Mayor of Castro Street was slowly gaining national recognition. His reputation preceded him as an ostentatious and witty politician. During his career, he helped to pass a gay rights ordinance in the city of San Francisco that prohibited anti-gay discrimination in housing and employment. As a small business owner, he fought for unions and led a successful boycott against beer companies.

Milk’s background as a public school teacher fueled his campaign against Proposition 6, a failed initiative to ban gay and lesbian teachers from working in California’s public schools. Harvey Milk’s speeches galvanized queer youth and inspired hope in many people. Actress Victory Shane, playing Jackie Grover, says, “We have to stand together. We can’t expect other people to do it for us.” She would also like to dedicate her performance to her sister Shayla and her fiancée Marnisha.

Dear Harvey shows historical events such as the Dan White trial and the White Night Riots. Dan White shot and killed both Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone at the city hall on November 27, 1978. White was convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, and sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison. Hours after the verdict, thousands of people gathered to protest and express their anguish. They walked to city hall and encountered a police barricade. They shouted, “He got away with murder.” Police cars were lit on fire and riots ensued.

Actor and HFC theatre alum, Jesse Mattox, playing Cleve Jones, says, “The power of the individual to create change at a systemic level is important. To inspire others to pursue careers that can change lives, to have one person believe in you—it makes a difference.”

Activist Cleve Jones founded the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, which has become the world’s largest community art project. It honors the memory of people who have died of AIDS. In the Sisson Gallery, a panel from the Detroit Chapter of the Names Project will be on display until Dec. 5. It can be viewed during normal gallery hours as well as immediately following each performance. For gallery hours, see: sisson.hfcc.edu.