DPAC and the 2017 Art of Cool Festival to Welcome Common Next Spring

DPAC and the 2017 Art of Cool (AOC) Festival announce the addition of Golden Globe, Academy and two-time Grammy Award-winning rapper/actor/film producer/poet Common as part of the official lineup for the 2017 AOC Festival taking place in Durham, North Carolina on April 28-30. Common with special guests will perform at DPAC on Saturday, April 29, 2017.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, December 16 at 12p.m.: Online at DPACnc.com, at the Ticket Center at DPAC: 919.680.2787, 123 Vivian Street, Durham, NC, and at Ticketmaster.com / Ticketmaster Charge by phone at 800.745.3000.

"It's great for the city of Durham and fans alike that the Art of Cool and DPAC have partnered to bring this home-grown festival to the DPAC stage. We are proud to be part of the festival's continued growth" said Taki Pappas, Director of Programming - Concerts & Comedy at DPAC.

"Partnering with DPAC to add Common to an already exciting lineup for the 4th installment of AOCFEST is a true testament to the growth not only of Art of Cool, but also the audience for Black American Music in the area," states Cicely Mitchell, President/Co-founder of The Art of Cool Project. "This truly is an honor and privilege to present such a world-class musician in one of the country's best performing arts centers."

With his multi-Grammy Award winning music career, his continued accolades in film winning a 2015 Academy Award, 2015 Golden Globe Award, 2015 NAACP Award, 2015 Independent Spirit Award and 2015 Critic's Choice Award, Common has emerged as one of Hollywood's most sought after leading men.

Prior to acting, Common rose to prominence as one of hip hop's most poetic and respected lyricists. He has recorded 10 studio albums and garnered multiple Grammy Awards.

Whether inspiring audiences through music, movies, television, books or his foundation- The Common Ground Foundation, Common continues to break new ground, and remains one of hip-hop's most innovative, positive voices.

An official ticket is required to attend the Common show at DPAC.

The Art of Cool (AOC) Project is a 501(c)(3) organization registered in the state of North Carolina and operating in Durham. AOC has been presenting live jazz and educating the local community about jazz since 2011. Co-founded by Cicely Mitchell and Al Strong IV, the AOC has three flagship programs: Art of Cool Festival (AOCFest), StArt of Cool Jazz Education (Start of Cool), and Innovate Your Cool Conference (IYC). For more information about the AOC Project and its programming visit, www.AOCFestival.org.

Since its opening in 2008, DPAC has become the center for live entertainment in North Carolina. Recognized for its contemporary design, DPAC features 2,700 seats, intimate sightlines and state-of-the art sound and video. Listed five times in the top 10 in Pollstar magazine's annual worldwide theater attendance rankings, DPAC is currently the #4 ranked theater in the U.S.

With a mission of presenting one-of a-kind live entertainment events, DPAC truly has "something for everyone", hosting over 200 performances a year including spectacular touring Broadway productions, high-profile concert and comedy events, family shows and the heralded American Dance Festival. Owned by the City of Durham and operated under the direction of Nederlander and Professional Facilities Management (PFM), DPAC has been listed for six consecutive years as the #1 performing arts organization in the region by the Triangle Business Journal.

What's up next at DPAC? Ira David Wood III's A CHRISTMAS CAROL (December 15-18), Broadway's Tony Award-winning family classic, RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA (December 30 - January 1), and the most award-winning musical of the season AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (January 3 - 8).

For more information, go to www.DPACnc.com.

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