LBO and Museum of African American Art Team for DUKE AND THE RENAISSANCE, 1/12

On Sunday, January 12, 2014, Long Beach Opera (LBO) and the Museum of African American Art come together for an afternoon devoted to the Harlem Renaissance. As a lead-in to LBO's production of Duke Ellington's rarely performed opera Queenie Pie, "Duke and the Renaissance" will explore the rich variety of art, music and literature that came out of 1920s-1930s Harlem. Highlights include a guided tour of the museum, an all-Ellington live performance, bubbly drinks and pie (what else?) in a memorable tribute to an American icon and Harlem's era of cultural brilliance.

Queenie Pie cast members and a jazz trio will provide the afternoon's musical fare featuring excerpts from Queenie Pie as well as standards from the Ellington catalog. Ticket holders will also be treated to a specially curated exhibit from the MAAA's Palmer Hayden Collection, a permanent gift bequeathed to the museum after the artist's death in 1973. MAAA board members and docents will be on hand to discuss these indelible works while participants sip champagne and stroll through one of Los Angeles' hidden treasures. For more information, visit www.maaala.org/haydencollection.html.

WHAT: DUKE AND THE RENAISSANCE

WHEN: Sunday, January 12, 2014 - 2PM to 5PM

WHERE: MAAA, 4005 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. 90008

TICKETS: $25 General Admission. Reserve tickets by calling 562.432.5934 or visiting www.longbeachopera.org/tickets. Tickets will also be available at the door.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ART: Located on the third floor of the original May Company building (now Macy's) in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, the Museum of African American Art has been operating for almost 40 years. Their extensive collection spans the globe and includes works by emerging African American artists as well as paintings, masks, batiks, carvings and ceremonial objects from Africa, the Caribbean, the South Pacific and South America.

ABOUT QUEENIE PIE-Southern California Premiere: Duke Ellington's little known Queenie Pie blends opera, jazz and musical theater into a dazzling, socially conscious work addressing intraracial colorism within the Harlem community. The show will run from January 26 through February 2, 2014 at the historic Warner Grand Theatre in downtown San Pedro with Artistic Director Kenny Burrell's Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra Unlimited conducted by Jeffrey Lindberg. The title heroine was inspired by the life of Madam C. J. Walker, the first African-American self-made millionairess, who developed and sold a line of hair and beauty products through innovative mail orders and door-to-door sales. For additional information, visit LBO's website: http://www.longbeachopera.org/2014-season/queenie-pie.

ABOUT LONG BEACH OPERA: Long Beach Opera (LBO) is internationally known for its cutting-edge interpretations of unconventional repertoire. LBO creates immediate, inventive, and often boldly avant-garde productions for an adventurous audience and stands apart from most opera companies in the number of world, American, and West Coast premieres the company has staged. Founded in 1979, it is the oldest professional opera company in the Los Angeles/Orange County region, with a performance history of more than 90 operas ranging from the earliest works of the 17th century to operas of the 21st.