Thanks to a grant from the Illinois Humanities Council, The HistoryMakers was able to capture the life stories of 4 pioneers in the Chicago Black Theatre community. Their interviews have been captured in the archives and The HistoryMakers will hold a presentation during Black History Month in February before an audience of 300 to showcase their stories to the public. The program will be called Showtime: Black Theatre in Chicago. This event will be held on Thursday, February 20th 2003 at the Chicago Cultural Center at Washington & Michigan in the Claudia Cassidy Theatre. The following artists will be featured:
Douglas Alan Mann began his career in Chicago theater during the early 1970s, as a member of the legendary Experimental Black Actors Guild (X-Bag). After performing in the first sixteen of X-Bag's productions, as well as numerous plays on Chicago's North Side, Mann and several members of X-Bag founded the Chicago Theater Company. The company's mission is to enhance the cultural environment of Chicago's South Side through the production of meaningful, quality theater.
Val Gray Ward is the founder of Chicago's Kuumba Theater, one of the most successful African American theater companies in the United States. Ward is also an internationally known actress, director and producer. Her 1992 production of "Amen Corner" was taken to the National Black Theater Festival. She also created the Emmy Award winning PBS television special "Precious Memories: Strolling 47th Street".
Okoro Harold Johnson has established his legacy in Chicago theater as a co-founder of the ETA Creative Arts Foundation. Located on Chicago's South Side, ETA has remained a community resource dedicated to the self-expression of African American culture. The theater has received national recognition for the originality of its dramatic productions and the effectiveness of its community outreach programs. Johnson has also contributed to the Chicago performing arts community through his work as a renowned playwright and director.
Jackie Taylor has written, directed and produced more than 100 theatrical productions as the founder and Executive Director of Black Ensemble Theater. Founded in 1976, the theater's mission is to generate new knowledge about the African American community and to use this knowledge as a tool to increase understanding, acceptance and respect between people from various cultural backgrounds. Taylor has also worked as an actor in numerous plays, television programs and motion pictures.
This is guaranteed to be a wonderfully enjoyable and educational event. Please mark your calendar.
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