African Community Theatre2018-2019 Programming

African Community Theatre2018-2019 Programming

FALL 2018

Nov. 15, 7:00pm An Echo in the Bone

Nov. 29, 2:30pm Malchauchon, or Six in the Rain

Dec. 8, 2:00pm The Calabash Kids: A Tale of Tanzania

SPRING 2019

March 7, 7:00pm Digital Masks to Africa: Cheikh Anta Diop: A Poem for the Living

March 21-22, 8:00pm Stone + 50: The Riots Continue

A.C.T. Solo Performance Festival April 10, 2:15pm- Workshop April 11, 6:30pm- Showtime

African Community Theatre 230 Oscar Ritchie Hall 225 Terrace Dr. | Kent, OH 44242 www.kent.edu/pas/act

Tickets can be purchased online or in person at 127 ORH between 10:00am-5:00pm.

African Community Theatre, 2018-2019Dr. D. Amy-Rose Forbes-Erickson Director of the African Community Theatre Artistic Director, Pan-African Theatre Ensemble Assistant Professor, Pan-African Studies

The African Community Theatre is an academic unit and a premier theatre facility founded in 1973, created to raise awareness about theatres and performances by African and African Diasporic peoples.

The African Community Theatre runs theatre programs throughout the academic year, including Pan-African theatre courses such as African Theatre, Practicum in African Theatre Arts, African American Theatre, Caribbean Theatre, special topics seminars for training and education about Pan-Africanism, African and African Diasporic performance.

A.C.T. theatre programming includes workshops, special events, the Fulani Institute of Academics and Arts production, the Pan-African Theatre seasons, first Friday meetings of the Pan-African Theatre Ensemble, and theatre festivals like the New Black Plays, A.C.T. Solo Performance Festival and others.

Through its programming, the A.C.T. strives to develop new audiences to Pan-African theatre, train students in theatre production, and provide opportunities and creative outlets for the local and Kent State University communities.

For more information, please contact Dr. Forbes-Erickson in 209 ORH, dforbese@kent.edu or (330) 672-0082.

Pan-African Theatre Ensemble

Dr. Forbes-Erickson’s P.A.T.E. is a practice-as-research project in academic theatre open to Kent State students who would like to participate in theatre research, community volunteers, and to anyone committed to Black theatres.

2018-2019 SeasonFall 2018- An Echo in the Bone by Dennis ScottMalcauchon, or Six in the Rain by Derek Walcott (Reading)

Spring 2019- Digital Masks to Africa: Cheikh Anta Diop: A Poem for the Living by Mwatabu Okantah

2017-2018 SeasonFall 2017- Vejigantes by Francisco Arivi

Spring 2018- The Purple Flower by Marita O. BonnerNew Black Plays (Festival) by various guest artists (A.C.T.)

2016-2017 SeasonFall 2016- The Bacchae of Euripides: A Communion Rite by Wole SoyinkaTahinta!: A Rhythm Play for Children by Efua Sutherland (Reading)

Spring 2017- Venus by Suzan-Lori Parks

AN ECHO IN THE BONE

NOV. 15, 20187:00 PM, $10

Free to KSU faculty, staff and students

Directed by Dr. D. Amy-Rose Forbes-Erickson, Performed by the Pan-African Theatre Ensemble

By Dennis Scott

A Jamaican ritual to help usher spirits to the afterlife demonstrates the effects of slavery on African ancestors and descendants through spirit possession and trance.

MALCAUCHON, OR SIX IN THE RAIN

Directed by Dr. D. Amy-Rose Forbes-Erickson, Performed by the Pan-African Theatre Ensemble

NOV. 29, 20182:30 PM, FREE!

Donations to the African Community Theatre Fund

By Derek Walcott (Reading)

Chantal, a woodcutter, and others gather under a hut from the rain for six versions of confessions describing the injustice and frailty of humanity.

THE CALABASH KIDS:A TALE OF TANZANIA

Free to KSU students and youth (12 and under)

DEC. 8, 20182:00 PM, $5

Directed by Dr. Asantewa Sunni-Ali, a Fulani Institute of Academics and Arts production

By Aaron Shepard

Shindo, a lonely woman, prays for children. When her calabashes unexpectedly change into children, she learns the power of her words and to appreciate what she has.

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Devised and directed by Dr. D. Amy-Rose Forbes-Erickson, Performed by the Pan-African Theatre Ensemble

By Mwatabu Okantah

A philosophical and spiritual journey to Africa in search of an identity stolen and dismantled hundreds of years ago, this production includes a multilingual cast and digital masks.

Devised and directed by Dr. Daniel Nadon and Professor Lauren Vachon, Sponsored by the Center for Gender and Sexuality

By students in Theatre and LGBTQ Studies

This newly devised piece commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Greenwich Village, New York City, as students reflect on opression(s) facing them today.

STONE + 50:

THE RIOTS

CONTINUE

MARCH 21 & 22, 2019

8:00 PM FREE!

Donations to the LGBTQ Emergency Fund.

Featuring Dr. Asantewa Sunni-Ali, Director of the Center for Pan-African Culture

Special Guest: Dr. Mary E. Weems

New works by solo artists from Kent State University faculty, staff, and students. Our guest will perform and conduct a workshop for students in the African American Theatre course, and the Kent State community.

A.C.T. SOLO PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL, 2019

*Free to KSU faculty, staff and students

WORKSHOPApril 10, 2:15 PM, Free!*

SHOWTIMEApril 11, 6:30 PM, $10*

African Community Theatre2018-2019 Programming

African Community Theatre 230 Oscar Ritchie Hall 225 Terrace Dr. | Kent, OH 44242 www.kent.edu/pas/act

Tickets can be purchased online or in person at 127 ORH between 10:00am-5:00pm.

Designed by Stephanie Snyder, College of Arts & Sciences