Katherine Dunham News

Actress/singer Jenelle Lynn Randall got raves for her participation in this year's Hollywood Fringe Festival. She premiered her one woman play with music about the life of actress/songstress Eartha Kitt entitled I Wanna Be Evil: The Eartha Kitt Story. For one night only Randall brought her evening to Feinstein's at Vitello's on Monday September 16 and was totally engaging, sparking a great big hit. Kitt was sultry with a purr that would stop a clock. Born into poverty as a plantation

Celebrating the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment granting women the right to vote; assembled and produced by Deborah Brockus, artistic director of the annual Los Angeles Dance Festival. Deborah Brockus has assembled another TKO of a presentation.  This time at the aesthetically invigorating and lovely renovated Ford Theatre; originally entitled, prophetically first named, The PILGRIMAGE Theatre.  It was an enlivening evening from start to finish.  Ms. Brockus is a hands-on participant, besides organizing, directing, choreographing and publicizing and cheerleading all involved, she was there to greet the theatre goers and anyone coming to support and witness this celebration.  Take note of her tenacity and perseverance.  

Earlier this year, on April 22, The Phantom of the Opera, reached a milestone that no other Broadway show has even come near. Phantom, the longest-running show in Broadway history, became the first Broadway show EVER to reach #13,000 performances. This is just one of many incredible achievements made by the show since it opened on Broadway over three decades ago.

On Sunday, March 30th, 1958 Alvin Ailey gave his first NYC concert at the 92nd St. Y where he debuted one of his signature pieces, 'Blues Suite'. Many of the best dancers in the city performed that day. Don't miss the opportunity to hear three of these amazing artists - Ella Thompson Moore, Nat Horne and Dorene Richardson - share memories of this auspicious (incredible) performance.

From the moment Jenelle Lynn Randall appeared at the top of the Studio C staircase, there was magic in the air as she descended with great style and bravado to share the life, music, and oversized personality of Eartha Kitt. As the writer, creator and executive producer of the Fringe 2019 show, it's easy to realize you are watching an incredibly talented artist perform her dream role from start to finish!

The Arts and Education Council announced today $495,500 in Operating Support Grants for 20 arts organizations across the bi-state region. The grants, made possible by contributions from thousands of individual, corporate and foundation donors, are part of the $1.7 million the Arts and Education Council invests in the community each year.

The American Dance Festival (ADF) continues this week with the ADF debut of North Carolina-based Murielle Elizéon & Tommy Noonan/Culture Mill and their presentation of the ADF-commissioned They Are All.

La Compañía Nacional de Teatro del Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura (INBAL) realizó el domingo 2 de junio un homenaje a Rosenda Monteros, actriz emérita de la CNTeatro, en la última función de la temporada de La Celestina, obra clásica que dirigiría en conjunto con Ruby Tagle, quien quedó al frente del proyecto tras el fallecimiento de Rosenda en diciembre pasado.

Purelements: An Evolution in Dance, inspiring and motivating youth in East Brooklyn to realize their authentic selves through exceptional arts programming, announces Legends of Dance: Past, Present, and Forever, June 9 at 5:00 p.m. at Kings Theatre.

Celebrating women, dance and the beauty of age, Dances For A Variable Population (DVP) will present three performances and two interactive workshops of REVIVAL 3: It's About Time, an outdoor public dance project featuring 10 legendary dance artists and 75 non-professional senior dancers, who in some ways allow us to become time-travelers.

A Midsummer Night's Drink, a rooftop party to celebrate the St. Louis arts and creative community, returns Aug. 2 to the Arts and Education Council's Centene Center for the Arts. Tickets are now on sale at KeepArtHappening.org/midsummer.

Purelements: An Evolution in Dance, inspiring and motivating youth in East Brooklyn to realize their authentic selves through exceptional arts programming, announces Legends of Dance: Past, Present, and Forever, June 9 at 5:00 p.m. at Kings Theatre.

The Arts and Education Council has named Black Tulip Chorale and EBT Culture Card as winners of the third annual stARTup Creative Competition. The competition, supported by PNC Foundation, encourages the development of great ideas with art at their core that strengthen and enhance the St. Louis arts community.

BMCC's Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers Street, in partnership with New Federal Theatre, will present 'Hatitudes 2019: A Tribute to the Grace and Style of Our Mothers,' a benefit for Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre, on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at 3:00 PM.

Uncle Bobbie's Coffee & Books - home of Cool People, Dope Books and Great Coffee - celebrates GLORY: A Life Among Legends,the new memoir by renowned dancer, educator, producer and author Dr. Glory Van Scott,with a special reading and book discussion on Wednesday, April 17, 7:00 pm, at 5445 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. The event is free and open to the public.

Columbus Children's Theatre brings back the classic show, Peter Pan, after 10 years! Under the direction of CCT alum David Bahgat and music direction of Stephanie Stephens, Peter Pan is flying into the Southern Theatre for one weekend only! Join us for a heartfelt tale of a lost boy and his sidekick Tinkerbell as they take the Darling children on an unbelievable adventure to Neverland. Reserve a seat for this high-flying production from May 17-19. 

African-Americans have used dance to tell their story, assert their identity, and express their unique creativity. Folk dance, popular dance crazes, and the high arts have all been unquestionably influenced by our genetic muscle memory of African movement. Facilitated by a local panel of speakers, this Community Conversations event will explore "Katherine Dunham to Misty Copeland - The African Diaspora in Dance." The panel will include China White, former ballerina with Dance Theatre of Harlem, and members of Thiossane West African Dance Institute.

In one of the most mesmerizing performances in recent memory, Jade Wheeler answers the question with a stunning interpretation of Eartha Kitt, both as an artist and as a person. With a foundation of creative direction by Cailin Doran, outstanding piano accompaniment by music director Seulah Noh, and synergistic design elements, Wheeler does the rest with the power of her voice, her magnetic gaze, and her expressive movements.

The Arts and Education Council announced today that four members of the St. Louis community have been elected to the organization's board of directors. Curtis Cassel, Deanna Hohman, David Weiss and Keith Tyrone Williams were each elected to a three-year term beginning Jan. 1.