Paul Laurence Dunbar News

Mirror Visions Ensemble (MVE) today announces concerts and programming for its 25th anniversary season.

WRITE OUT LOUD, an organization founded in 2007 with a commitment to inspire, challenge and entertain by reading short stories aloud for a live audience  - announces the 7th Annual TwainFest to take place on Saturday, August 20th from 11am - 5pm in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, San Diego. TwainFest is produced by Write Out Loud and sponsored by Fiesta de Reyes in association with Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.

'The New World Symphony: Dvorak in America' is a puppet and object theater work examining the influence of African-American and Native American music upon the great 19th-century Czech composer Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904). The piece is written and directed by Vit Horejš and performed by Czechoslovak American Marionette Theatre. It traces how Dvorak helped America accept its beautiful multicultural musical traditions by his enthusiasm for African-American and Native American music during his short but influential time in the USA. La MaMa Theatre will present the play's world premiere run March 10 to 27, 2016 in its Ellen Stewart Theatre, 66 East 4th Street (East Village). Composer and Musical Director is saxophonist James Brandon Lewis.

Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre (CAMT) has created 'The New World Symphony: Dvorak in America,' a play chronicling the American years (1892-1895) of Czech composer Antonin Dvorak, during which he produced a flurry of 'American' works. This puppet theater work is rich in classical and original music (played live!) and dramatizes one of the most significant cultural exchanges in American history. GOH Productions and Dvorak-American Heritage Association (DAHA) will present the piece as a work in progress January 30 and 31, 2016 at Bohemian National Hall, 321 East 73rd Street (Upper East Side). This production is preparatory to the play's upcoming world premiere run, which will be presented by La Mama Experimental Theatre, 66 East 4th Street (East Village), six weeks later: from March 10 to 27, 2016 (see more info below). The play is conceived and directed by Vit Horejs. Composer and Musical Director is saxophonist James Brandon Lewis.

Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre (CAMT) has created 'The New World Symphony: Dvorak in America,' a play chronicling the American years (1892-1895) of Czech composer Antonin Dvorak, during which he produced a flurry of 'American' works. GOH Productions and Dvorak-American Heritage Association (DAHA) will present the piece as a work in progress January 30 and 31, 2016 at Bohemian National Hall, 321 East 73rd Street (Upper East Side). This production is preparatory to the play's upcoming world premiere run, which will be presented by La Mama Experimental Theatre, 66 East 4th Street (East Village), six weeks later: from March 10 to 27, 2016 (see more info below). The play is conceived and directed by Vit Horejs. Composer and Musical Director is saxophonist James Brandon Lewis. Scroll down for a sneak peek at some of the puppets!

Quintet of the Americas will present In Pursuit of Freedom, a special Mother's Day program honoring Maya Angelou on Sunday, May 10 - 3:30 PM at St. Marks Church-in-the-Bowery, 131 E. 10th Street in New York, NY. The program will feature music and poetry for and by Maya Angelou and others related to the African-American experience and the In Pursuit of Freedom exhibition at Brooklyn Historical Society.

Grammy Award-winning choral director Craig Hella Johnson will guest conduct the St. Charles Singers in a concert program titled “Inspired” at 8 p.m. tonight, March 7, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 310 S. Wheaton Ave., Wheaton; and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 8, at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles.

Grammy Award-winning choral director Craig Hella Johnson will guest conduct the St. Charles Singers in a concert program titled “Inspired” at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 310 S. Wheaton Ave., Wheaton; and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 8, at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles.

Mayor Greg Fischer today announced that Ed White, the founder of the River City Drum Corps is the 2015 recipient of Louisville Metro's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Award.

Fifty years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, the New York Festival of Songbrings back one of its most beloved shows, HARLEM RENAISSANCE, tonight, December 9, 2014 at 8:00 pm as it continues the 2014-15 Mainstage series at Merkin Concert Hall.

Fifty years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, the New York Festival of Songbrings back one of its most beloved shows, HARLEM RENAISSANCE, on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at 8:00 pm as it continues the 2014-15 Mainstage series atMerkin Concert Hall.

Today, Macy's announced that Sting, composer of Broadway's THE LAST SHIP, Idina Menzel star if Broadway's IF/THEN, and Nick Jonas will be among the stars appearaing at the 88th annual MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE.

Tonight, October 23, the Lincoln Theatre Association will continue Conversations, a free series designed to generate community discussion on a variety of interesting questions surrounding the arts. The second event in the Lincoln Conversations Series will be 'Feeling It: Gospel to Soul.'

On Thursday, October 23, the Lincoln Theatre Association will continue Conversations, a free series designed to generate community discussion on a variety of interesting questions surrounding the arts. The second event in the Lincoln Conversations Series will be "Feeling It: Gospel to Soul."

On Saturday, September 6, Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre will present Dancing at Dunbar, a site-specific performance at Dunbar Village, home of The Dunbar Hotel. The piece is based on Life's Tragedy and Sympathy, two poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar. After successful performances of At the Oasis throughout LA, and following a residency for South LA youth at A Place Called Home the day before, today, September 5, Dancing at Dunbar will celebrate Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre's work in the community with two performances at The Dunbar Hotel.

On Saturday, September 6, Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre will present Dancing at Dunbar, a site-specific performance at Dunbar Village, home of The Dunbar Hotel. The piece is based on Life's Tragedy and Sympathy, two poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar. After successful performances of At the Oasis throughout LA, and following a residency for South LA youth at A Place Called Home the day before, on Friday, September 5, Dancing at Dunbar will celebrate Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre's work in the community with two performances at The Dunbar Hotel. The first performance at 5pm will be free for the residents of Dunbar Village, followed by another at 8pm open to the public.

New York Festival of Song announces 2014-15 season. Four Great Series Return Classic: NYFOS MAINSTAGE at Merkin Concert Hall (4 concerts) Future: NYFOS NEXT at Opera America's National Opera Center (3 concerts) Cabaret: NYFOS AFTER HOURS at Henry's Restaurant (3 concerts) Mentoring: NYFOS EMERGING ARTISTS at North Fork, Juilliard, Caramoor (3 concerts)

Those who have wondered whatever 'happened' to the Black press will find answers in 'Whither the Black Press?' an informative and entertaining book that traces the historical roots of the medium and examines whether new media platforms of the 21st century can fill the void left by a segment of the declining newspaper industry.