January 2009

Bright Star Children’s Theatre The Life of Dr. Martin L. King Jr. [read press release]

Raise a Reader Book Fair & Youth Talent Showcase with special guest Ralph Burgass
January 17

Sheryl Lee Ralph (one woman show on HIV/AIDS) – Sometimes I Cry [read press release]
January 23 & 24

Otis Taylor Concert- collaboration with Duke Performances [read press release]
January 22

Baron Tymas CD Release Party
January 25

United Negro College Fund Gala (to support scholarships)

February 2009

Slave Photograph Exhibition
February 5

Pastels & Zinfendal Wine & Cheese with Art event
February 7

Annual Valentine’s Jazz Festival featuring Duke, NCCU and UNC Big Bands
February 15 at 6pm

Hayti Heritage Film Festival
February 19-22

15th annual Black Diaspora Film Festival
HAFY- Color Struck by Lacy Productions (2-shows)

March 2009

Annual Spirit of Hayti Awards
Vincent Mantsoe in Residence (collaboration with Duke Dance Program)

April 2009

Bimbe Cultural Arts Festival (major collaborator with City of Durham)
Tobacco

Road Concert Series (2 concerts)

June 2009

HOST- 16th annual Southeast Regional Poetry Slam Competition- Southern Fried Regional (Major regional arts event with multiple performances and collaborators- a one week event)

September 2009

2009 Bull Durham Blues Festival
September 11-12, historic Durham Athletic Park (DAP), home to the festival for 20 years

HERITAGE ARTS FOR YOUTH PROGRAM
Presented by the Bright Star Children’s Theatre

St. Joseph’s Performance Hall @ Hayti Heritage Center
Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Click here to purchase tickets.

One of the most celebrated leaders of the last century; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is brought to life in this powerful and accessible production. Beginning with a brief overview of the Civil Rights Movement in America, the play soon shifts to explore the work, speeches, trials and tribulations of this heroic and empowering figure. In dedicating his life to justice and equal rights, Dr. King became the youngest person to ever win the Nobel Prize for Peace, was named the Time Magazine Man of the Year for 1963 and brought about dramatic shifts in the American way of life through peaceful ways–without being a bully or fighting back…This production is truly a celebration of the legacy and work of one of America’s greatest figures!

Demand for The Life of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. has resulted in us expanding the original run of the show through April 3rd. This empowering 50 minute production brings to life the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King and a number of other influential figures in his life and work.

This production is being designed to be accessible enough for 3rd graders and yet appreciated by adult audiences as well. What’s more the production has an invitation for performances on February 14th at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati!

This production stars Aaron Scott from the Orlando Shakespeare Festival–as Dr. King. Mr. Scott, is moving to New York City the day this tour ends to begin working as an Actor in the Big Apple. Joining Aaron is Chelsea Cipolla, a graduate of Emerson College and professional actress based in Boston, Mass.

10:30 AM Heritage Arts for Youth Performance (Students $5; chaperons & teachers admitted free with group)
7:00 PM Open to families and general public (Adults $8; Students $5)

Sponsored by the North Carolina Arts Council and Durham Arts Council.

Duke Performances in collaboration with Hayti Heritage Center presents

Otis Taylor, Don Vappie & Corey Harris
Recapturing the Banjo
Thursday, January 22, 8 pm, Page Auditorium

Blues visionary Taylor is pursuing a radical project: to reclaim the lost history of an American instrument. With a MacArthur prize winning bluesman (Harris) and a jazz banjo virtuoso (Vappie), he reasserts the black roots of an instrument too long associated with white culture. In performance, these masters enmesh tales of African-American life—“Ran So Hard the Sun Went Down,” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Hey Joe”—in the shifting chord changes of the banjo blues.

“The banjo has become so closely associated with folk singers and bluegrass players. Over the years, the instrument just lost touch with its roots, and I’m just trying to re-establish that connection.”
—Otis Taylor

Tickets are $34, $26, $18, $5* and can be purchased at Duke Box Office (919) 684-4444, www.dukeperformances.org or www.tickets.duke.edu or at the Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville Street, (919) 683-1709.

Or go to: http://dukeperformances.duke.edu/programs/shufflepick/taylor.php

Writer-Producer Sheryl Lee Ralph
Friday and Saturday, January 23, 24, 2009
St. Joseph’s Performance Hall @ Hayti Heritage Center
7:30 PM

Click here to purchase tickets for Jan. 23.
Click here to purchase tickets for Jan. 24.

The love and life struggles of six women from very different backgrounds and cultures are experienced as writer-performer Sheryl Lee Ralph (Dreamgirls) tells their stories.

Sometimes I Cry is a one-woman show written and conceived by award winning actress and honored AIDS activist, Sheryl Lee Ralph. This moving and provocative show was inspired by the real life stories of women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Ms. Ralph becomes each one of these characters, breathing life into them and their stories with every move and simple gesture. Sheryl Lee Ralph possesses a wealth of talent that has been hidden for far too long; Actress, Singer, Producer, and now writer! When Sometimes I Cry was initially presented at the National Black Women and HIV/AIDS Conference in Los Angeles, December 2005, the show was met with the most extraordinary out pouring of love and acceptance.

“These women’s voices have been silent for too long in the struggle against HIV/AIDS and must be heard.” — S.L. Ralph

Sometimes I Cry is the second production from The Diva Foundation, which first burst onto the AIDS fundraising scene in 1990, with its magical evening of song and entertainment Divas Simply Singing, held annually at Wilshire Ebell Theater. Over the years Divas Simply Singing has benefited Minority AIDS Project, AIDS HealthCare Foundation, Project Angel Food, Black AIDS Institute, Caring for Babies with AIDS and many others.

The Diva Foundation is a national not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded by Sheryl Lee Ralph, in 1990, as a memorial to the many friends she had lost to HIV/AIDS. The organization focuses on generating resources and coordinating activities to create awareness of and combat against HIV/AIDS. The DIVA Foundation utilizes music and entertainment as a vehicle to educate, raise awareness, and erase the stigma attached to this deadly disease.

Presented by St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc. the program is sponsored by Chapel Hill- Carrboro Area Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency, and National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Tickets: $20 adults; $15 students (w/id) & Senior Citizens For more information and tickets visit www.hayti.org. Group Tickets available. The Hayti Heritage Center is located at 804 Old Fayetteville Street, Durham, NC 27701 (919) 683-1709.

St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc. and African American Dance Ensemble presents Celebrate Kwanzaa 2009 on December 26 – January 1, 2009.

“The Only 7 Day Public Celebration in the Triangle”

Candle lighting nightly at 7:30 pm (*except January 1st);
Doors open at 6:30 with a variety of vendors in the African Market Place.
Jan 1 doors open at 12 noon; program begins at 1pm. All events FREE to the public.

Honoring Our Legacy

Friday, Dec. 26 – UMOJA- Unity
Baba Chuck Davis, Brother Charles Wsir Johnson and Friends

Appreciating the Uniqueness of Our African Heritage

Saturday, Dec. 27 -  KUJICHAGULIA- Self Determination
Baba Chuck Davis, The Magic of African Rhythm and Friends

Treasured Reflections

Sunday, Dec. 28 -  UJIMA- Collective Work & Responsibility
Baba Chuck Davis, 100 Men in Black Chorus

Our African Heritage Revealed

Monday, Dec. 29 -  UJAMAA- Cooperative Economics
Baba Chuck Davis, Bradley Simmons and Elements of Percussion

Cultural Connections: Oldies but Goodies (Jr./Sr. Moments)

Tuesday, Dec. 30 – NIA- Purpose
Baba Chuck Davis, WG Pearson Honors Harp Ensemble and The Dream Team Harp Ensemble, and Queen Esther.

Unto Thee: All Praises!!

Wednesday, Dec. 31 – KUUMBA-Creativity
Poet Mick, Praise Dancers: Scarborough Dance Images, Untouchables- Mt. Zion Christian Fellowship,

Yes We Can!!

Thursday, January 1 – IMANI- Faith
Baba Chuck Davis and EZIBU MUNYU Dance Company

23rd Annual KwanzaaFest 2009

Presented by the African American Dance Ensemble
Special North Carolina premier of ‘The Black Candle” at 1 pm directed by award winning filmmaker MK Asante, Jr.

To find out more about KwanzaaFest contact AADE at (919) 560-2729 or HHC at (919) 683-1709. You can also visit our web site at http://africanamericandance.org or www.hayti.org.

Kwanzaa is an African American holiday celebrated from December 26 through January 1. It is based on the agricultural celebration of Africa called “the first fruits” celebrations, which celebrate the times of harvest, gathering, reverence, commemoration of the past, recommitment to cultural ideals and celebration of the good.

Kwanzaa was created out of the philosophy of Kawaida, which is a cultural nationalist philosophy that argues that the key challenge in black peoples’ lives is the challenge of culture, and that what Africans must do is to discover and bring forth the best of their culture, both ancient and current, and use it as a foundation to bring into being models of human excellence and possibilities to enrich and expand our lives.

It was created in the midst of our struggles of liberation in the 1960’s and was part of our organization US” efforts to create, recreate and circulate African culture as an aid to building community, enriching black consciousness, and reaffirming the value of culture grounding for life and struggle.

Kwanzaa is celebrated by millions of people of African descent through out the world African community. As a cultural holiday, Africans practice it from all religions, traditions, all classes, all ages and generations, and all political persuasions on the common ground of their African ness in all its historical and cultural diversity and unity.

* Maulana Karenga

“Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture”