Musical theater performance kicks off Women’s History Month
The ensemble – featuring Tahirah Whittington on cello, Hugh Hinton on piano and Michael Parola on percussion along with actress Taylore Mahogany Scott – performs “Ain’t I a Woman!” 7 p.m. March 1 in the Wattenbarger Auditorium located in the Bryan Fine Arts Building on campus. This Center Stage Event is free and open to the public.
“Ain’t I a Woman!” celebrates the lives and times of four powerful African-American women: renowned novelist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, ex-slave and fiery abolitionist Sojourner Truth, exuberant folk artist Clementine Hunter, and fervent civil rights worker Fannie Lou Hamer.
The musical score is drawn from spirituals, blues, the urban vitality of the Jazz Age, and contemporary concert music by African Americans. “Ain’t I a Woman!” is a joyful exploration of the trials and triumphs of four passionate and accomplished women.
“Foreign language department associate professor Dr. Karen Burdette secured Center Stage funding for this event and then graciously agreed to allow the Women’s Center and Minority Affairs to co-sponsor this exciting presentation,” said Diana Lalani of the Women’s Center. “I have had a framed poster of Sojourner Truth in my living room ever since I read her daring ‘Ain’t I a Woman’ speech delivered at an early women’s rights convention in the 1800s. I admire her strength and her conviction and look forward to what will no doubt be an inspiring evening.”
“The Core Ensemble grabs the audience’s attention from the first note and doesn’t let go,” she said. “It’s a musical performance, but it’s not a concert. It’s a dramatic performance, but it’s not a play. It’s musical theater with dramatic movement and dance, but it’s not a musical. There are several musicians in the ensemble, and one actress portrays all of the characters. The Core Ensemble presents a truly unique form of artistic expression.”
The piece is in four scenes, taking place at a dramatic intersection in each of the four protagonist’s lives and featuring many of their own words.
“Ain’t I a Woman!” was written by Kim Hines and is directed by Akin Babatunde.
