Calendar of Events

Hurrey-Up Stage & Filmworks Comes to Durham with Comedy “Nappy Journeys” October 22

Hurrey-UP’s solo performance production, Nappy Journeys, written, directed, and performed by Ayinde Hurrey, focuses on the artistic expression and amazing phenomenon of African-American hair. First performed in 1997, Nappy Journeys is a wild ride with four of Hurrey’s very animated characters. Chosen as one of the 29 main stage productions at 2009 National Black Theatre Festival, Hurrey-UP represented Pensacola, Florida at the week-long celebration of culture in a major way! With his audience participatory style of performance, Hurrey’s unique journey will entertain, educate, and inspire its audiences.

“One of my students went to see your show three times! She raved about the energy and intellingence that your show has…I have seen the show twice and have enjoyed it both times very much.”
~Kathryn Spicer, Instructor / Wayne Community College

“There are a lot of issues in our culture that are taboo to talk about. I admire anyone who addresses them.”
~Shawn Smiley, Tampa Florida

“Ayinde brought a tight, dynamic show to Tampa and rocked the house three nights in a row to fully appreciative audiences…I personally laughed to the point of tears and I see a lot of shows being in the position that I am.”
~David M. Jenkins, Artistic Director/The Jobsite Theatre / Tampa, FL

AYINDE HURREY hails from Goldsboro, North Carolina. At an early age, he began his career on the stage as a drummer/musician with The Cultural Movement, Inc., a company founded by his father, Raymond “Nilaja” Hurrey, the original percussionist for The Last Poets. His musical career eventually guided him to assume the responsibilities as Musical Director for TCM, Inc., as well as Founder/Artistic Director of Ayoluwa African Dance Company in Durham, NC. Ayinde’s background in African dance and percussion has provided him with the opportunity to perform as a guest artist with various dance companies all over the country and abroad.

In the years to come, Ayinde decided to develop his talents as an actor, writer, and director. He studied at North Carolina Central University in Durham, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and pursued his graduate training at the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he received his Masters of Fine Arts in Acting. Ayinde landed his first role in a stage play in September 1991, as Reuben Mercer in August Wilson’s, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. He has played numerous roles in university as well as regional theatres. As a director, he has produced numerous West African dance concerts, West African percussion compositions as well as stage plays. His first directorial piece was For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide…When the Rainbow is Enuf, by Ntozake Shange. Ayinde’s most recent works have been Nappy Journeys, a solo piece written, directed, and performed by Hurrey and the role of T-Bone in T-Bone & Weasel.

Now residing in Pensacola, Florida, Ayinde continues to spread his theatrical energy to audiences both near and far through the efforts of Hurrey-UP Stage & FilmWorks. As producer and founder, Ayinde develops theatrical works in both stage and film with particular focus on cultural awareness and diversity. Hurrey-UP produces highly entertaining works while at the same time, acknowledging the crucial educational value of the performing arts.

Hurrey-UP Stage & FilmWork will be in residence throughout the Durham community October 18-23. He will visit various public and private schools, NCCU and perform at Hayti Heritage Center. Tickets for his production of Nappy Journey go on sale September 15.

Tickets are $10 students/ Sr. Citizens; $15 adults and can be purchased via the web at www.hayti.org or call (919) 683-1709 ext.21, or at the Hayti Heritage Center.

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Film Screening – Against the Odds: The Artists of the Harlem Renaissance

Sunday, October 3 at 3:00 PM @ Hayti Heritage Center

As part of Durham County Library’s Art on Film series, please join us for this PBS-produced documentary which tells how black artists triumphed over formidable odds. The film features more than 130 rarely seen paintings, prints, photographs, and sculptures by black artists, and even more rarely seen archival footage of those artists at work. 60 minutes. Free and open to the public. Call 560-0268 for more information. Co-presented with St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation Inc. at the Hayti Heritage Center.

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Blues After Hours Events Kick Off Durham’s Celebration Of the Bull Durham Blues Festival

As September rolls around all who live in the Triangle area look forward to the annual Bull Durham Blues Festival schedule for September 10 and 11. This year with the change in location to the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC), the Bull Durham Blues Festival has added additional outreach programs to entice the traditional festival audience and embrace new ones.

Starting August 12 through September 3rd, St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation will sponsor four (4) Blues After Hours events “ALL ABOUT TOWN”. Each event is from 6pm – 8pm and free to the public. Blues lovers are invited out to enjoy great blues music, and indulge in food and beverages at each local restaurant or site location. Local and regional blues professionals will treat the audience to the best blues music to dance too or simply move your feet to.

The schedule is as follows:

AUGUST 12
Tad Walters Band
Papa Mojo’s Roadhouse
5410-Y Highway 55

AUGUST 20
th’ Bullfrog McGhee
Hayti Heritage Center
804 Old Fayetteville Street

AUGUST 26
Big Rick & The Bombers
Nasher Museum of Art
2001 Campus Dr.

SEPTEMBER 3
Will MacFarlane
The Blue Note Grill
4125 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd.

The Bull Durham Blues Festival will be held on September 10 & 11, 2010. Friday headlining the festival at the Hayti Heritage Center, doors open at 6PM show starts at 7PM, is Ruthie Foster Quartet, Mel Melton & The Wicked Mojos, and MSG The Acoustic Blues Trio. Special feature for Friday night will be the introduction of the Bull City Youth Blues Band. Saturday night the festival moves to the DPAC where headliner Buddy Guy, Bettye LaVette, The Wild Magnolias, Melva Houston, and Shades of Blue. Doors open at 5pm, show starts at 6PM.

A free outdoor concert will get everyone in the mood for some good ole blues on Saturday afternoon from 4pm – 6pm on the Capitol Broadcasting Company Plaza at DPAC where two local bands, Fat Bastards Blues Band and Hell Camino will take the stage to get you ready for the main course. This event is free to the public and vendors will be on site. Bring your lawn chairs and or blankets for the afternoon event.

Tickets for the Bull Durham Blues Festival are on sale now at www.bulldurhamblues.org or www.dpacnc.com, or call (919) 683-1709. Tickets are $35, $45 and $55.

The St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc. (SJHF) founded in 1975, is an African American cultural and educational institution deeply rooted in the historic Hayti community of Durham, North Carolina. SJHF is dedicated to advancing cultural understanding through diverse programs that examine the experiences of Americans of African descent – locally, nationally and globally. The Foundation is committed to preserving, restoring and developing the Hayti Heritage Center, the former St. Joseph’s AME Church, a National Historic Landmark, as a cultural and economic anchor to the greater Durham community. Funds raised from the event support the programs and operations of the Foundation and Hayti Heritage Center.

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Phoenix Festival

Durham’s funkiest street music festival will be back on Fayetteville Street on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010 “bigger and badder” to celebrate the legacy of Durham’s Hayti community. From the opening parade up Fayetteville Street, to the vending bazaar to the all-day music on stage, Phoenix Fest will bring over 8,000 visitors to one of NC’s oldest African American communities.

Please visit our website at www.phoenixfestdurham.com.  Call 919-680-2878 for more info and see the attached registration form.  Thanks!

Filed under: Annual Events,Events

North Carolina Humanities Council Supports the Legacy of Hayti Film Documentary Project

St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc. has been awarded a grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council to support The Legacy of Hayti film documentary project. The work in progress documentary explores the history of the Hayti Community in Durham, North Carolina. The purpose of the documentary is to encourage frank discussions centered on the legacy of both affluent and poor black families living in Hayti. The project is the concept of filmmakers Kelvin De’Marcus Allen, owner of Strategic Media Solutions Group, Jaisun McMillan, President of Virtual Media and Victor Stone Vice President of Virtual Media. Dr. Beverly Washington Jones, a retired Provost and Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs at North Carolina Central University is a consultant to the project and is featured in the film.

There will be two (2) screenings of the documentary October 18, 2010 at Hayti Heritage Center at 7:00 PM, and October 19, 2010 at Mount Vernon Baptist Church at 4:00 PM. Over 100 persons will be invited representing community activist, historians, working class, elected officials, filmmakers, senior citizens, church congregants, and the foundation/business sector to participate in three (3) focus groups led by humanities scholars and one of the filmmakers. A content analysis of the focus group discussion reports will be made to identify events and trends that had an impact on the economic, political and cultural legacy of Hayti and Durham. The film screening is free and open to the public.
St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation has embarked on this collaboration to continue its mission to preserve and present the rich history of the Hayti community and contributions to world culture. This film project once completed will be included in presentations and tours currently conducted at the Hayti Heritage Center to hundreds of visitors yearly including school children, cultural heritage travelers and many local residences who are eager to learn more about our own history. This project is made possible in part by a grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc. (SJHF) founded in 1975, is an African American cultural and educational institution deeply rooted in the historic Hayti community of Durham, North Carolina. SJHF is dedicated to advancing cultural understanding through diverse programs that examine the experiences of Americans of African descent – locally, nationally and globally. The Foundation is committed to preserving, restoring and developing the Hayti Heritage Center, the former St. Joseph’s AME Church, a National Historic Landmark, as a cultural and economic anchor to the greater Durham community.

For more information call (919)683-1709 or visit www.haytitheheritage.com

Filed under: Events