Theatre And Dance At Wayne Offers The Fateful And Stirring Story Of The 'Hottentot Venus'

The Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance, a program within the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts at Wayne State University, will present "Venus" by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, March 22 to April 13.

"Venus," the winner of two OBIE awards, gives vibrant life to the true story of a young black woman's journey to London, her rise to notoriety as the "Hottentot Venus," and her eventual relationship and demise with a French scientist. Inspired by the true story of Sarah "Saartjie" Baartman, "Venus" is a tragic-carnival, an intense and devastating journey honoring the life of Baartman while examining the way we live and love today.

According to director Billicia Charnelle Hines, "Suzan Lori-Parks uses her unique nonlinear writing, language, and style in Saartjie's story to remind us that 'behind the wound is love.' The play explores how the love of money, sex, and power can destroy a person and community literally and figuratively."

Tickets are available online at www.theatreanddanceatwayne.com, or by phone at (313) 577-2972. A convenience fee of $2 per ticket is automatically added to your ticket when purchasing online. Additional fees may be required per order.


About the Wayne State University
Wayne State University is one of the nation's preeminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://research.wayne.edu/