Maya Angelou News

a?oeVoices of Change,a?? an inspiring production featuring original choreography and live music, will be performed by the young talents of National Dance Institute's (NDI) Celebration Team on their third visit to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Sunday, March 8. The event takes place at 4 p.m. in NJPAC's Victoria Theater.

On the Thursday, January 30th edition of a?oeTamron Hall,a?? Tamron spoke with Emmy, Grammy and Tony award-winner Billy Porter about the rapper Lil Nas X's response to a tweet shaming him for his outfit at the Grammys. On how he feels about being a role model for artists like Lil Nas X and everyone in the LGBTQI community, Billy responded, a?oeI never had an example of who I was in the mainstream reflected back at me ever. It's been intentional for me. The moment I decided to love myself enougha?? You have to love yourself enough. Maya Angelou says 'We teach people how to treat us.' so I had to teach the world how to treat me. But I needed to treat myself right first. I needed to figure out how to love myself right first in the face of rejection for simply being who I am.a??

Coming April 24-26, The TELL(h)ER Summit 2020 in San Juan, Puerto Rico is dedicated to providing a space for humans of all backgrounds to tell their stories. Not limited to writers and authors; the three-day summit curated by diverse industry professionals guide attendees (or TELLERS) through the expiration of storytelling in a multitude of creative outlets. The #TellHerTalks movement jumpstarts in Los Angeles on February 12, 2020.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, has shared the entertainment and performers for the 2020 TCG Gala: Our Stories, which will be held on Monday, February 3, 2020, at The Edison Ballroom (240 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036).

Michael Feinstein has built a dazzling career over the last three decades bringing the music of the Great American Songbook to the world. From recordings that have earned him five Grammy Award nominations to his Emmy nominated PBS-TV specials, his acclaimed NPR series and concerts spanning the globe a?" in addition to his appearances at iconic venues such as The White House, Buckingham Palace, Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall and Sydney Opera House a?" his work as an educator and archivist define Feinstein as one of the most important musical forces of our time. Don't miss An Evening with Michael Feinstein Singing Gershwin a?" live at the Van Wezel on Thursday, February 20 at 8 p.m.!

The Long Goodbye, a one woman play written, produced and performed by actor Mattilynn Rochester Kravitz, is a universal hero's journey of love, forgiveness, and understanding all tied up with the bow of Alzheimer's. The multi-character show, presented by Whitefire Theatre in Los Angeles, explores the irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and skills, through a tumultuous mother and daughter relationship. The Long Goodbye opens on Friday, January 31 at 8pm, PT. at the Whitfire Theatre located at 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA.

On Saturday, February 1, 2020 at the Jill Newhouse Gallery on the Upper East Side, artists of color will engage in a special talk about European art for the tenth annual Master Drawings New York. Conceived by Savona Bailey-McClain and Jill Newhouse, this event hopes to diversify the conversation about art and bridge time periods, artists and audiences in this 21st century.

Traveling the world as an international opera star, Angela Brown noticed something about audiences. 'I would see very few people who looked like me,' says Brown. On the surface, it looked like a racial divide, but when Brown performed at schools and universities across the country, she learned that exposure and access also played key roles in the gap. This compelled her to create her show Opera...from a Sistah's Point of View that dispels the myths surrounding the sometimes-intimidating art form called opera. By demonstrating the ethnic, geographic, and socio-economic diversity portrayed in opera characters, she helps people from all walks of life and races find themselves in and enjoy opera. She blows up the preconceived expectations of opera by mixing show-stopping arias, poignant art songs, and moving spirituals with tongue-in-cheek commentary. The show breaks down barriers for audiences that wouldn't necessarily include opera as a part of their entertainment options.

As the days get longer and Spring hits Seattle in the first quarter of 2020, The Opera Center bustles with free and low-cost activities for all ages. The mainstage operas attract big crowds Eugene Onegin (1/11 a?' 1/25) and Charlie Parker's Yardbird (2/22 a?' 3/7) at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. But, adjacent to McCaw Hall, is Seattle's newest education, artistic and civic space known as The Opera Center. This state-of-the-art facility opened to the public on December 15, 2018 and is accessible to everyone.

The 28th Annual Bounce Trumpet Awards, an exciting and inspirational night recognizing African-American achievements and contributions, world premieres Sunday, January 12 at 9:00 p.m. ET on Bounce.

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are kicking off the new year with a star-studded January schedule! At Birdland Jazz Club, catch the Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, under the direction of Scotty Barhart and special guest vocalist Carmen Bradford; Karrin Allyson as she pays tribute to Mose Allison; and the Hot Sardines, among others!

In the centennial year of legendary alto-saxophonist Charlie Parker, one company is using opera to tell a story about jazz. Seattle Opera presents Charlie Parker's Yardbird, a work created by saxophonist and composer Daniel Schnyder and Bridgette Wimberly, an award-winning poet and playwright.

Mint Theater Company Producing Artistic Director Jonathan Bank today announced that Katie Firth (A Day by the Sea, A Picture of Autumn, Susan and God, Far and Wide - Mint Theater, Museum - Keen Company), Anna Lentz (The Diary of Anne Frank - Geva Theatre Center, The Many Deaths of Nathan Stubblefield, The Tens, A Christmas Carol, Gratuitous Nudity and the Undisclosed Costs of Questioning Surveillance Rather Than Bad Broccoli - Actors Theatre of Louisville),

Mint Theater Company Producing Artistic Director Jonathan Bank today announced the first cast member for the World Premiere pairing of Chekhov/Tolstoy: Love Stories, a program of short plays adapted from stories by two of the world's greatest authors, Anton Chekhov and Leo Tolstoy adapted for the stage by Miles Malleson (Conflict, Yours Unfaithfully).

Renowned British-Canadian musician, composer, conductor and pianist Clement Ishmael presents an intimate concert of classic poems set to music, performed with internationally acclaimed soloist, Melanie Marshall.

An interview with Josey Montana McCoy (Huck Finn) and David Aron Damane (Jim), stars of Rubicon Theatre Company's current production of 'Big River.' The immersive, atmospheric production has been critically acclaimed by press and audiences alike and has been extended for an additional week, until November 17.

Dallas Black Dance Theatre's (DBDT) Director's Choice series features classic works of master choreographers and the world premiere of an emerging choreographer, continuing its 43-year tradition of launching the careers of talented choreographers. Texas Instruments is the presenting sponsor of the series that runs November 1-3, 2019 at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in the AT&T Performing Arts Center, located at 2400 Flora Street, Dallas, Texas.

The North Carolina Black Repertory Company (NC Black Rep) will hold auditions in Manhattan on Saturday October 26, 2019 for the title role in the world premiere of Phenomenal Maya by Nambi E. Kelley. The play is inspired by the life of Dr. Maya Angelou and was commissioned by NC Black Rep in August 2018.

On Friday, Oct. 11, 6:00 pm, Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series will honor award-winning performance artist, author and cultural activist Camille Yarbrough with our distinguished Reel Sisters Hattie McDaniel Award for her outstanding contributions to film, television, literature and performing arts over six decades. The Reel Sisters Trailblazer Award will be presented to Sandra Guzman, producer and lead interviewer of Toni Morrison: Pieces I Am, and pioneering filmmaker Leslie Harris, director of the classic film Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. Cash prizes will also be presented to our award-winning filmmakers. Tickets: $35 ($30 - Bring A Pal discount for 2+ tickets).

Freestyle Love Supreme is taking Broadway by storm! The improv freestyle rap group is now previewing their show at the Booth Theatre, ahead of an October 2 opening night. The show's limited run will close on January 5, 2020. Before the show opens on Broadway, we're taking you through some highlights of the series, as well as some other notable appearances from Freestyle Love Supreme!