Sweet MaMa String Bean Comes To CCPA 6/11-13

The Covina Center for the Performing Arts is proud to present ValLimar Jansen as Sweet MaMa String Bean, a one woman show recreating the life and career of Ethel Waters, for three performances only, June 11, 12 and 13.

Jansen has sung and toured professionally nationwide and in Switzerland, France, Japan, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Israel. Jansen has appeared with the Broadway touring cast in Raisin, the Tony award winning musical based on the play A Raisin in the Sun. Her performance as Ethel Waters received a special commendation from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Frank Jansen, musical director and husband of the vocalist will lead the orchestral accompaniment at the piano.

Sweet MaMa String Bean is co-authored by Jansen and Cal State University Professor William Slout to commemorate the achievements of Waters, who was born in the late 1880's and broke down racial barriers for other artists. Waters was the first black woman to sing on the radio, to star in a Broadway show, and to be nominated for an Academy Award.

Jansen's performance will feature signature songs of Waters', including Am I Blue, Stormy Weather, Suppertime, and St. Louis Blues. Early jazz hits from Waters' club days include Heebie Jeebies, Shake That Thing, and My Handy Man Ain't Handy No More.

" ‘String Bean' is a fortuitous acquisition for the CCPA 2010 Season," stated Executive Director Retha Champion. "It is an original work by a local artist to replace the Festival of New American Musicals event previously announced for the upcoming season. It is still a first class work and promising new material for the musical theatre stage," Champion concluded.

Tickets for the event are $35 and may be obtained at the theatre box office at 104 N Citrus Ave, Covina ( 626 331 8133), or online at www.covinacenter.com. Curtain times are at 8 pm for the Friday and Saturday performances, with a special 3 pm curtain for the June 13 Sunday matinee.