Martin Luther King, Jr. News

Motown the Musical will embark on a major UK and Ireland tour which will be heading to Manchester Opera House from Tuesday 26 February - Saturday 23 March 2019.

Academy Award-nominee, Angela Bassett will join Kathleen Battle as a guest narrator in Battle's program Underground Railroad: A Spiritual Journey accompanied by pianist Joel Martin and the LA-based choir, The Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) on Thursday, March 29 at 8:00pm.

Hailed as "one of the great amateur choruses of our time (New York Today) for its "full-bodied sound and suppleness (The New York Times)," The Dessoff Choirs culminates its 93rd season with a "Freedom Concert" inspired by the late Coretta Scott King (b. April 27, 1927), wife of Martin Luther King Jr., and advocate for African-American equality.

In conjunction with six designated days honoring equality, Ripple Effect Artists (REA) will present 'Guarding the Bridge' the 1995 award-winning play about racism by Chuck Gorden. REA continues to leverage theatre for social good with its 2018 actor's equity production of the one-act play starring Tim Dowd and Scott Zimmerman, directed by Jonathan Libman.

Acclaimed Memphis based, Nigerian-born artist Ephraim Urevbu, honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a special tribute unveiling at Art Village gallery, 410 S Main Street, on Friday, March 16, 2018 at 6:30 pm.

At the laying of Carnegie Hall's cornerstone in 1890, Andrew Carnegie said that "all good causes may here find a platform." At no time during Carnegie Hall's history were those words better represented than in the 1960s when voices were raised in protest, singing out to be heard. Throughout this pivotal decade, among the more than 3,600 events, was an extraordinary variety of benefits and tributes for social causes that used Carnegie Hall's stage as a platform from which to raise funds or awareness.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will once again grace the stage at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) Mother's Day Weekend with performances from Friday, May 11 - Sunday, May 13. 'Movement that'll move you" (New York magazine) is guaranteed for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 20th anniversary engagement at NJPAC - the culmination of the Company's 21-city North American tour. Artistic Director Robert Battle leads Ailey's 32 extraordinary dancers as they continue the Company's legacy of using the African-American cultural experience and the American modern dance tradition to uplift, unite, and enlighten. Three diverse and exciting programs spotlighting premieres and new productions by influential choreographic voices will inspire audiences at Prudential Hall, all closing with a stirring finale of Alvin Ailey's always must-see American masterpiece, Revelations. Reserve tickets for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater on May 11 - 13 by visiting NJPAC.org or 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722) or the NJPAC Box Office.

As the celebrations, performances, and successes of The Cleveland Orchestra's Centennial Season continue toward its conclusion this spring, the Orchestra has announced details of its 101st season for 2018-2019. Aspects of the celebratory spirit continues - with a 100th Birthday concert in July for the Cleveland community and Centennial Gala in September. The new season also extends the dedicated week-to-week work, creativity, and artistry required to continue being one of the world's best orchestras year after year.

David F. Slone has been blessed to spend much of his life attending and performing in fabulous shows. Nonetheless, he's particularly giddy to be able to celebrate his the culmination of his fifth decade on the planet by presenting this ridiculously eclectic evening of song, dance, magic, circus, comedy, and more!

Inspired by the current political climate, Suffolk University Theatre Professor Wesley Savick brings a new musical to the Modern Theatre, one state, two state / red state, blue state. The musical features new songs in the indigenous American languages of folk, country, blues, jazz and Broadway. The story focuses on what happens when "Betty" and "Bill" - former lovers living on opposite sides of the country - rekindle their relationship after a long separation.

A limited engagement of Katori Hall's The Mountaintop will play the Halloran Centre at the Orpheum March 28 through April 1 (5 Performances). Tickets are on sale now for this special MLK50 event.

Today's subject, Andrew Walker White, is currently living his theatre life onstage at Quotidian Theatre Company in Bethesda, MD. in the title role of Hobson in Hobson's Choice. The production runs through March 11th.

THE MAN IN ROOM 306, Luna's critically acclaimed signature piece, honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 50th anniversary of his assassination. April 12 through May 13th.

The "I Have A Dream" Foundation Los Angeles (IHADLA) is holding their 5th Annual Dreamer Dinner on Sunday, March 18, 2018 at The Skirball Cultural Center. This event honors those who inspire hopes and dreams for Los Angeles at-risk youth and their families, showcasing the work being done by IHADLA to break the cycle of poverty through education, empowerment and opportunity. The host for the evening will be actress & comedian Melissa Peterman ("Baby Daddy," "Reba") in her fifth turn as emcee for the event. Pamela Miller, CEO and Executive Director of IHADLA, who joined the organization this past January had this to say about the upcoming event, "I am excited about the Dreamer Dinner and am proud to share our meaningful work with the evening's guests. Our board members, volunteers and professional staff are extraordinary - and we look forward to celebrating our amazing students, in what is always a heart-warming and fun evening."

The Mississippi Museum of Art (the Museum) and Tougaloo College (the College) are presenting Now: The Call and Look of Freedom, the inaugural exhibition of the Art and Civil Rights Initiative (the Initiative) through May 15, 2018. The Initiative, funded by the Henry Luce Foundation and launched in December 2017, is a multi-layered, multi-year partnership that leverages the art collections of both institutions to foster community dialogue and interpretation about civil rights issues, past and present.  Romare Bearden. The Conversation, 1979 Elizabeth Catlett. My Right is a Future of Equality with Other Americans, from The Negro Woman series, 1947 Now: The Call and Look of Freedom is on view at the Tougaloo College Art Gallery in The Bennie G. Thompson Academic & Civil Rights Research Center. It is the first in a series of four exhibitions over two years drawing from the collections of the College and the Museum to be mounted alternatively at both institutions. The exhibition is curated by LaTanya Autry, Curator of Art & Civil Rights, a joint position she holds with the College and the Museum. 

Anyone familiar with the work of Nigerian-born, Memphis based artist Ephraim Urevbu, will be interested to see the recent work he created in tribute to the city-wide MLK50 commemoration. In the spirit of forging a new path, and recognition of the tremendous legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who sought to bring a nation together rooted in justice and peace, Art Village Gallery in partnership with the National Civil Rights Museum's MLK50 commemoration, will host an unveiling reception of an original painting titled E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One) created by Mr. Urevbu, to be held at Art Village gallery, 410 S Main Street, Friday, March 16, 2018 at 6:30 pm.

Pegasus Theatre Chicago, in association with ShPIeL Performing Identity, announce the Chicago premiere of The Green Book, inspired by Victor Green's historical, "The Negro Motorist Green Book," March 1 - April 1 at Pegasus's resident home Chicago Dramatists, 765 N. Aberdeen. The Green Book is written by Calvin A. Ramsey, and directed by Producing Artistic Director Ilesa Duncan. The performance schedule is Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with added Sunday 6 p.m. performances. Tickets are $18 - $30 and are available at PegasusTheatreChicago.org. Discounts available for groups of ten or more at Group Theater Tix, 312-423-6612.

American soprano Kathleen Battle's luminous voice has been called by The Washington Post "...without qualification, one of the very few most beautiful in the world."  Yet beyond the glory of her singing, in a career filled with countless accolades, honors and major milestones, what has perhaps distinguished her most is her almost magical ability to create an unwavering emotional bond between herself, her music and her audience.  On Thursday, March 29 at 8pm, that special bond will be on full display when Ms. Battle makes her debut at The Soraya with Kathleen Battle: Underground Railroad-A Spiritual Journey accompanied by pianist Joel Martin and the LA-based choir, The Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers.

San Francisco International Arts Festival is delighted to present the world premiere of DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE Requiem for a King composed by Anthony Brown with original spoken word by Angela Davis performed by the Asian American Orchestra and vocal ensemble Voices Of A Dream.

Carnegie Hall's The '60s: The Years that Changed America, a citywide festival from January 14-March 24, 2018, concludes this month with a vast array of events presented at Carnegie Hall and at more than 35 leading partner cultural institutions throughout New York City. This special exploration of the '60s invites audiences to explore this turbulent decade through the lens of arts and culture, including music's role as a meaningful vehicle to inspire social change.