Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Eduardo J. Padrón to Speak

What: Duke Ellington leading his big band, Lena Horne on the silver screen, Billy Strayhorn composing "America's classical music," Zora Neale Hurston taking the literary scene by storm, World War II, the Great Migration, and the social and economic transformation of the nation….

These and other topics are explored in "1943," a new work for musical theatre that will have its world premiere at Cleveland State. Proceeds benefit student and community outreach programs. Reservations are required.

Written and directed by Nathaniel Rhodes, this work is inspired in part by the life and times of Lena Horne (1917 - 2010). The cast for this staged reading with live vocal and instrumental music includes Christopher B. Baptiste Jr., Robin Bradley, Wilhelmenia Glenn (Me'Na), Shenee King, Nathaniel Rhodes, Theresa Ann Scott (Mama T), and Jessie Champion Sims.

When: Saturday, August 13

• 5:30 p.m. Cocktail Hour (Cash Bar)
• 6:30 p.m. Elegant Buffet Dinner ($25)
• 7:30 p.m. Seating Begins for FREE Performance
• Art Exhibit throughout Evening

Where: Ballroom of CSU's Student Center 2121 Euclid Avenue.
Dr. Dave Moody, an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at the State University of New York at Oswego SUNY, will also give a brief presentation on 20th century African American culture.

For reservations: Visit http://stagingafricanamericanhistoryandculture.ticketleap.com/ or contact Dr. Regennia N. Williams at (216) 523-7182 or r.williams@csuohio.edu.

This event is made possible with support from the Office of the Vice President for Institutional Diversity, the STARS Program, the Department of History, the Cleveland Chautauqua Planning Committee, and RASHAD's "Staging African American History and Culture" Project. 

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