Theater at the Fort Celebrates Black History Month With New Show Coming Feb. 21

Writer / Suzanne Huntzinger
Photography provided by Theater at the Fort

Black History month comes alive at the Theater at the Fort as they host Village Voices, February 21 at 7 p.m.

A brand-new show written by up and coming playwright, Megan Simonton, and created by pianist Joshua Allen Thompson, Village Voices is a biographical and historical celebration of artistic contributions from African-Americans.

“The show highlights the unsung and underperformed masterworks of African-American artists spanning the 18th to 21st centuries,” says Joshua Thompson, making his debut as Artistic Director of Village Voices. “There’s visual art, West-African dance, classical piano works, jazz, soul, poetry and excerpts from Black literary classics.”

Simonton and Thompson have called upon locally and nationally known artists who currently perform the works of African-American artists to join this innovative production. You’ll see brilliant performances from Bashiri Asad, the jazz quartet Premium Blend and Manon Voice, actress Chandra Lynch and noted visual artists Rae Parker and Deonna Craig, to name a few. Each member of the cast is accomplished in their genre, and is poised to deliver a mesmerizing performance incorporating their contribution of the works of a cultural ancestor who has inspired them.

Indianapolis hosts a wide array of amazing productions and activities each year during Black History Month, like the Indianapolis Arts Council’s “Art and Soul.” Village Voices is no exception. Although the show coincides perfectly with Black History month in February, Thompson ‘s goal was to come up with a program that wasn’t just offered during the month of February.

“It was difficult to find substantial representation of African-American classical composers and artists in the current curriculums and programs around the city,” Thompson says. “So, my vision was to create a show that features their artistic contributions that can be regularly included in arts programming throughout the year in schools and venues known for cultural and artistic offerings. We truly hope everyone is inspired by this program.”

The show will sell out fast and seating is limited, so get your tickets now at artsforlawrence.org. General admission tickets are $20 per person, students and seniors are $15 per person, and active military and veterans are $12 per person. For additional questions, call 317-875-1900. Theater at the Fort is located at 8920 Otis Avenue, Lawrence, Indiana.

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