American Revival, a new traveling festival of hope created by filmmaker Nicholas Ma, arrives in Montgomery the weekend of October 12-13, 2025. Co-produced with local nonprofit MAP360, the two-day program will weave together music, film, and community engagement to create a shared vision for why and how we matter to each other, even as we feel more divided than ever.
The experience begins on Sunday, October 12, with a FREE, ticketed show at Troy University’s Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts at 4:00 PM. The afternoon will feature a call to love from filmmaker Nicholas Ma, as well as performances by his father, world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, acclaimed singer-songwriter Valerie June, and award-winning actor Alfre Woodard, alongside additional special guests. Tickets are free and available here.
The next day, October 13th, from 1:00 to 5:00 PM, The Helpers Tent will transform the Capri Theatre parking lot into a celebration of the Montgomery community. Inspired by Fred Rogers’ call to “look for the helpers,” the gathering will spotlight local organizations, everyday heroes, and interactive activities for all ages, inviting neighbors to connect, discover resources, and honor the spirit of kindness and service. All are welcome to attend.
That evening, at 7:00 PM, the Capri Theatre will host a special screening of Leap of Faith, Ma’s moving new documentary, which follows twelve diverse Christian leaders brought together by Michael Gulker of The Colossian Forum. Across a year of retreats, they wrestle with today’s most divisive issues, asking whether we can disagree and still belong to each other in a divided world. Tickets are free and available here.
The Capri Theatre will also host two special screenings of the acclaimed documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor, about Fred Rogers and the enduring legacy of kindness at the heart of his work, which Ma produced, with more information on ticketing to be announced in the next few days.
“Everyone is asking themselves a version of the question: ‘What difference can I really make anyway?’ People feel small. People feel powerless. The world feels big and its challenges feel even bigger. Some people think it’s apathy. I think it’s closer to despair,” said Nicholas Ma. “The American Revival turns that despair into hope, through words, art, and action. The fact is: not only can we make a huge difference to our neighbors, to those around us, but when disaster strikes, we actually do. Those are the moments we’re proudest of ourselves. And it is those moments that can resound loudly enough to change the world.”
“Troy University looks forward to partnering with MAP360 to offer a free concert to the citizens of Alabama that will feature Yo-Yo Ma, one of the world’s most renowned musicians, and his filmmaker son, Nicholas Ma. This rare opportunity to share world-class talent reflects Troy University’s love for and commitment to the arts,” said Dr. Jack Hawkins, Chancellor of Troy University.
“American Revival is about lifting up what unites us — our families, our neighborhoods, and the ways art, music, and storytelling bring us together in shared experience,” said MAP360 founder, Sarah Beatty Buller.
“MAP360 is proud to be partnering on this initiative with Nicholas Ma and Troy University, and these amazing artists, and hope it inspires people to see the helpers around us and to imagine new ways of building kindness and connection in Montgomery and beyond.”
Event Schedule
- Sunday, October 12 | 4 PM — American Revival Show at Troy University’s Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts (free tickets required)
- Monday, October 13 | 1–5 PM — The Helpers Tent in The Capri Theatre parking lot
- Monday, October 13 | 7 PM — Screening of Nicholas Ma’s Leap of Faith at The Capri Theatre (free tickets required)
- Monday, October 13 | TBA— Free screenings of Won’t You Be My Neighbor at The Capri Theatre
About American Revival
American Revival is a national cultural movement curated and organized by Ernest Lyford. Each gathering brings together the inspiring and the unexpected, harnessing that energy to build bridges and forge lasting bonds across difference — all with the goal of strengthening the country’s faith in community.
About MAP360
MAP360 is a Montgomery-based nonprofit that creates arts programming to revitalize public spaces, bridge divides, and expand opportunities for artists and arts organizations. Since 2017, MAP360 has produced or supported more than 175 projects and events, worked with over 100 artists, and reached 1.6 million people — including bringing arts programming into schools for over 800 students. For more information, visit map360.org or follow us on Instagram at @map360
About Troy University
Troy University is a public, historic, international university with more than 14,000 students and more than 176,000 alumni. Students choose TROY for its quality academic programs, reasonable costs and availability of financial aid, outstanding faculty, and flexible in-class and online class offerings. Students on the Troy, Ala. campus enjoy a traditional college experience, while adult students are the centers of attention at campuses in Dothan and Montgomery, as well as at locations around the world and online. Learn more at troy.edu.
