Kimberly Ridgeway, Tré Terry and Bryan Harnetiaux entered the KPBX studio with E.J. Iannelli to talk about Harnetiaux’s play National Pastime. The play recounts Jackie Robinson’s historic breaking of the baseball color barrier and the toll that civil rights victory ultimately took on him.

A new production of National Pastime opens this weekend at the Spokane Civic Theatre. Ridgeway, an accomplished Bay Area actor, playwright and director, is helming this production. Terry is playing Robinson.

The interviewees were also joined by cast members Kim Berg and Brian Little for two on-air performances of scenes excerpted from the play. Berg is playing Branch Rickey, general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers at the time; Little is playing Wendell Smith, a sports reporter who advocated for Robinson.

Harnetiaux discussed his inspiration for the play and the various milestone anniversaries it’s commemorating this year. Terry addressed some of the weightier scenes, and Ridgeway spoke about the relationships that are at the heart of National Pastime‘s story.

National Pastime opens this Friday (April 14) at the Spokane Civic Theatre and runs on the venue’s main stage until April 23. Tickets and more information are available by calling (509) 325-2507 or visiting the Civic’s website.