Powerstories Theatre and the Studio@620 Bring Untold Civil Rights Story to St. Petersburg with Cadillac Crew

This November, two of Tampa Bay’s most groundbreaking theaters join forces to spotlight the women who carried the Civil Rights Movement from behind the scenes. Cadillac Crew by Tori Sampson runs Nov. 6–16, 2025, at The Studio@620, presented in partnership with Powerstories Theatre as the culminating production of Powerstories’ 25th anniversary season, and the first show in the Studio@620’s season—a milestone year dedicated to honoring stories that ignite truth, courage, and change.

Set in Virginia on the day Rosa Parks is scheduled to speak, Cadillac Crew follows four women activists working in a civil rights office. As they prepare for the event, they confront the realities of being sidelined in a movement they helped build. The play is inspired by the real-life “Cadillac Crews”—groups of women who drove across the country to unite Black and white women in the fight for racial desegregation and voting rights.

“This play asks us to reckon with a question that is still urgent today: whose voices do we amplify, and whose labor do we overlook?” said Erica Sutherlin, Artistic Director of The Studio@620 and director of the production. “By telling the story of these women, we’re not just honoring the past—we’re shining a light on the inequities and silences that remain.”

“Closing our 25th season with Cadillac Crew is both intentional and deeply meaningful,” says Fran Powers, Powerstories founder. “This play embodies everything Powerstories stands for—amplifying women’s voices that history tried to silence.”

The production stars powerhouse performers recognized from stage and screen. Ivy Sunflower takes on the role of Rachel, Marjorie Joseph portrays Abbey, Jai Shanae plays Sarah, and Andresia Moseley brings depth and fire to the role of Dee. Together, they bring fire, humor, and vulnerability to a story that is as much about friendship and survival as it is about politics.

Clareann Despain, Powerstories Artistic Director, added: “Cadillac Crew is more than history on stage. It’s a mirror. It shows us how progress is often built on women’s invisible labor—and it challenges us to ask how much of that truth still holds today.”

The partnership between Powerstories and The Studio@620 underscores both organizations’ shared mission to center stories that matter and to create platforms where underrepresented voices are heard.

Community Events Leading Up to Cadillac Crew

To deepen the conversation, a series of community events will lead into the production:

• Hidden Figures Screening — Sunday, Oct. 12 at Green Light Cinema A special screening of the acclaimed film about Black women mathematicians at NASA, whose brilliance was hidden from history. A conversation with Erica and Clareann will follow the movie. Get tickets here
• Beyond the Story: Women in the Movement — Sunday, Oct. 19 at The Studio@620 Journalist and playwright Jake-Ann Jones leads a community conversation on women’s roles in the Civil Rights Movement and the erasure of their contributions from mainstream history. Get tickets here
• Members First Look — Saturday, Oct. 25 at The Studio@620 Exclusive to Yes!Maker members: an intimate rehearsal preview and conversation with director Erica Sutherlin about the making of Cadillac Crew. By invitation only
• The Unseen Thread, Women Art as Movement Exhibition Opening — Thursday, Oct. 30 at The Studio@620
  The Unseen Thread is an exhibition focused on the power, history, and identity of women artists, exploring the enduring link between artistic practice and social movements. Presented in partnership with the 2025 Tampa Bay Urban Futures Festival, this powerful show delves into central visual and thematic concepts like weaving, memory, resistance, and empowerment. RSVP for opening night.

Why It Matters Now

As communities across Tampa Bay continue to confront issues of equity, representation, and voting rights, Cadillac Crew offers more than theatre—it offers a conversation starter. By dramatizing the unseen work of women who made the Civil Rights Movement possible, the play challenges audiences to consider: what struggles are still being carried by unseen hands today?

“Cadillac Crew is a reminder that the fight for justice was—and still is—driven by women whose names we may never know,” said Powers. “Their courage paved the way, and this play ensures their stories are finally heard.”

Performance Details

• Dates: November 6–16, 2025
• Location: The Studio@620, 620 1st Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL
• Tickets: Available at thestudioat620.org/events/cadillac-crew

About The Studio@620

For more than 20 years, The Studio@620 has been a cultural cornerstone in St. Petersburg, a place where creativity, conversation, and community converge. Under the leadership of Artistic Executive Director Erica Sutherlin, the Studio is entering a bold new era with a renewed mission: to ignite cultural vibrancy and propel creative careers by connecting artists, audiences, and collaborators across disciplines. With a commitment to equity, access, and radical imagination, The Studio@620 provides space for exhibitions, performances, residencies, and community partnerships that reflect and shape the stories of our time. Learn more at thestudioat620.org.

About Powerstories Theatre

For 25 years, Powerstories Theatre has been a vital force in Tampa’s arts community, staging true stories to open minds and hearts and inspire action worldwide. Founded by Fran Powers, the nonprofit uplifts women, girls, and underrepresented voices through original productions, festivals, workshops, and educational outreach. With a deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, Powerstories fosters a brave space where storytellers and audiences connect through shared truth and creative expression. Learn more at powerstories.com.
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