Calming the Man Theatre

The play is set in 1976, around the nation’s bicentennial,” White said. “In 2026, the nation will celebrate its 250th birthday, and productions of ‘Calming the Man’ could spark conversations on how far we’ve come as a nation on race relations during the past 50 years and how best to go forward.” Ryan Hope Travis, director of the play, who is also a filmmaker and UF theater professor, echoed White’s sentiments. “In 2026, we will mark the Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence,” Travis said in an email to The Sun. “These milestones highlight our progress as a nation and also draw attention to areas that remain unhealed. Art reflects our current state, and ‘Calming the Man’ portrays the stinging aftermath of segregation. What art reveals at our 250th anniversary remains to be seen.”