Other People's Heaven: The Viola Desmond Story

By Beau Dixon

Viola Davis Desmond (July 6, 1914-1965) was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. She was an African- Canadian who ran her own beauty parlor and beauty college in Halifax. She has been referred to as a Canadian version of Rosa Parks. Desmond’s story was one of the most publicized incidents of racial discrimination in Nova Scotian and Canadian history. On November 8, 1946, Viola Desmond refused to sit in the balcony designated exclusively for blacks in a New Glasgow theatre. Instead she took her seat on the ground floor where only white people were allowed to sit. After being forcibly removed from the theatre and arrested, Desmond was eventually found guilty of not paying the one-cent difference in tax on the balcony ticket from the main floor ticket.

About Playwright(s)

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Cast Information

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Female roles

Male roles

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Non-Binary Gender Non-Conforming roles

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Gender unespecified roles

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First produced

2012, Province of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia

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Playwrights Guild of Canada

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Digital Script

The role of Viola Desmond needs to be performed by a female actor of African Canadian ethnicity. Irene needs to be performed by a Caucasian female actor. The male characters can be performed by one male Caucasian. actor.

The role of Viola Desmond needs to be performed by a female actor of African Canadian ethnicity. Irene needs to be performed by a Caucasian female actor. The male characters can be performed by one male Caucasian. actor.

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