Wildcat Players Bring History to the Stage

The Wildcat Players of Meridian High School took the stage last night to perform “A Carefully Calculated Murder,” an original play written and directed by MHS Theatre Randy Ferino Wayne and co-directed by MHS student Tyler Hopson.

There will be a final performance on December 4, 2025, at 7 p.m. in the MHS Auditorium on the campus of Meridian High School. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students with a valid school ID.

They will travel to Starkville, MS, this weekend to perform “A Carefully Calculated Murder” at DramaFest on the the campus of Mississippi State University.

About the play:  “A Carefully Calculated Murder” is a powerful and emotional stage production based on the true events surrounding the June 1964 murders of three civil rights workers—Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman. These young men worked tirelessly throughout Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement, striving to help African Americans register to vote despite widespread hatred, racism, and violent resistance. Their story stands as one of the most tragic and defining moments of Freedom Summer.

Central to the production is the work of James Chaney, who joined Michael and Rita Schwerner in establishing COFO, a civil rights center designed to uplift and support Black communities. COFO offered valuable opportunities—sewing classes, cooking lessons, children’s activities, and access to a library filled with books that were unavailable in segregated Black libraries. It became a beacon of education, empowerment, and hope while also serving as a site for Black voter registration efforts during Freedom Summer.

The play features: Haylee Stockman (Carolyn Goodman), Taylor Graham (Rita Schwerner), Zackery Stockman (Edgar Ray Killen “Preacher”), Trinity Price (Fannie Lee), Tyler Hopson (Ben Chaney), Kristopher Jasper (James “J.E.” Chaney), Zhoie Grant (Julia Chaney), Aaron Walker (Michael “Mickey” Schwerner), Keydarius Taylor (Roscoe Jones), Marshayla Cater (Sue Brown), Jason Oswald (Andrew “Andy” Goodman), Robert Jones (Cecil Price), Jaden Clark (Roosevelt “Bud” Cole), Precious Munguia (Beatrice Cole), Jarnez Barron (David “Dave” Dennis), Chamar Curtis (Robert “Bob” Paris Moses), Morrell Williams (David Sims), Kimari King (Mr. Sims), Victorian Jackson (Mrs. Sims), Le’Tedra Amos (Bernice Sims), and Mikaylah Edwards (Angela Lewis).

Ensemble of Church And CORE Actors

Anterio Scott, Ashley Allen, Jaden Campbell, Sammya Gains, Ayona Coleman, Saniah Lewis, Titus Johnson, Cameron Willis, and La’Keyra Smith

Production Crew

Stage Left Managers……………….………………………………….Mikaylah Edwards & Veronica Garcia

Stage Right Managers……………………………………………………Jaden Clark Jaaslyn Griffin

Stage Light Technicians……………………………...…………………………….Isaac Yates & Brooklyn Isaac

Follow Spotlight…………………………..……………………………………..Kyla Grace & Derek Flores

Sound Technician…………………………………………….Journee Stewart & Jaquavius Hamilton

Technology Technicians…………………………………………..Dylan McDonald & Morgan Walker

Stage Crew

Keyosha Jones,Ladarius Lewis, Charston Scott, Patrick Baylor, Johntavious Romero, Autumn Hampton, and Braylon Lynch.