Emerson Theater Collaborative stage "Court-Martial at Fort Devens"

Jeffrey Sweet based his play "Court-Martial at Fort Devens" on something that really happened - a major injustice and then a fight for equality.

African-Amercan women who joined the Army during WWII to be trained as nurses ended up instead being relegated to doing menial jobs. They cleaned toilets and mopped floors.

A white colonel had them court-martialed, leading the women to embark on a landmark battle for racial equality in the U.S. military. They were aided by an African-American lawyer - and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Emerson Theatre Collaborative (ETC) is staging the drama this week and next at Mystic's First United Methodist Church. The production, directed by Joshua Lee Ramos and produced by ETC's Camilla Ross, stars Stephanie Williams, Naza Jana Usher and Yohanna Florentino.

A portion of the profits from the performances are being donated to the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), which helps to provide educational experiences for military children.

- KRISTINA DORSEY

"Court-Martial at Fort Devens," First United Methodist Church, 23 Willow Street, Mystic; Emerson Theater Collaborative presents this play by Jeffrey Sweet; 8 p.m. this Fri.-Sun. and April 19-21; also, 4 p.m. Sun. and April 22; $25 ($20 students and seniors); (860) 705-9711, emersontheatercollaborative.org.