Division Releases

Ohio Commemorates Black History Month on Stage and Screen
A celebration of the African-American experience and history through theater and cinema
2/3/2009

CONTACT:
Tamara Brown at (614) 466-8591
Joyce Brown at (216) 344-9966

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Feb. 3, 2009) – Nowhere can one experience the struggles, triumphs and realities of the African-American experience more deeply than through the art of theater. Whether in a performance on the live stage or on the silver screen, passionate actors and actresses can transport the audience back through history, educate them in the present and transform them for the future. Ohio celebrates Black History Month through the transformative power of theatre with a number of film screenings and theatrical performances. Here are some highlights:

Columbus
The King Arts Complex works to celebrate the African-American culture through creative expression and to improve the quality of life in society. Opened in 1987, the complex offers many artistic forms of expression for both its visitors and members. In honor of Black History Month, the Kings Arts Complex presents “Bridging the Gap” a month-long documentary film series including the following films:

The Letter
Saturday, Feb. 14, 6 - 8:30 p.m., King Arts Complex Ballroom
In the wake of the Sept. 11 tragedy, a firestorm erupts when Mayor Larry Ramond of Lewiston, Maine sends an open letter to 1,100 newly arrived Somali refugees advising them that the city's resources are strained to the limit and asking other Somalis not to move to the city. Interpreted as a rallying cry by white supremacist groups across the United States, “The Letter” documents the crossfire of emotions and events, culminating in a "hate" rally convened by the World Church of the Creator and a counter "peace" rally involving 4,000 Lewiston residents supporting ethnic and cultural diversity.

Traces of the Trace
Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, 6 - 9 p.m., King Arts Complex Theater
Katrina Browne’s film tells the story of her forefathers, the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history, following the family on a journey to discover a love/hate relationship with their Yankee culture, along with the healing and transformation needed outside and inside themselves.

Swastika to Jim Crow
Thursday, Feb. 26, 6 - 9 p.m., King Arts Complex Ballroom
This powerful documentary examines the little known history of the sympathetic interdependence between blacks and Jews as evidenced when black colleges and scholars reached out to embrace Jewish refugees of the Holocaust. Moving excerpts of actual interviews and commentary reveal the bonds that developed between students, teachers and administrators.

Truth is On Its Way
Saturday, Feb. 28, 6 - 9 p.m., King Arts Complex Theater
Shot in cinema verite style, “Truth” tells the story of Nikki Giovanni’s ascent into American literature and pop culture through her provocative poetry. The story is set against the backdrop of the women’s movement, civil rights movement, the emergence of hip-hop and the rap revolution. “Truth” features a combination of interviews, performances, recitations and cut-ins, plus photos from Nikki’s personal collection, archival photos, footage and music (gospel and contemporary) from the era she grew up in. Her journey from Cincinnati, Ohio to Fisk University and everything in between is captured.

Cincinnati
The Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati presents August Wilson’s “Gem of the Ocean” in its regional premier from Feb. 4 – 22. Reality and mysticism collide in this haunting, soulful tale that chronologically begins August Wilson’s epic ten-play cycle about the African-American experience and sets the stage for his other plays, including last season’s production of his final chapter, “Radio Golf”. Bewildered by the collapse of the old slave regime, first generation black Americans struggle to define an African-American identity in the post-slavery era of the early 20th century. Many venture north, including Citizen Barlow, a spiritually tormented young man who visits Aunt Ester, the Hill District’s fiery matriarch and a former slave, on the eve of her 287th birthday. As Barlow travels to the mythic City of Bones at the bottom of the sea, he makes startling discoveries about guilt, duty and redemption.

Cleveland
Karamu House, widely known as the oldest African-American theatre in the United States, was established as a Settlement House for all races, cultures and ethnicities in 1915. Because of this open-door policy, the Playhouse Settlement, as it was called, attracted many of the best African-American artists of the time. Today, Karamu offers art experiences for people of all ages through a variety of programs. The three primary program areas are the Early Childhood Development Center, the Center of Arts and Education and the Karamu Performing Arts Theatre. Karamu House, Inc. is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and received an Ohio Historical Marker in 2003. The following plays will be featured during Black History Month:

A House With No Walls
Jan. 23 – Feb. 15 (Arena)
A play by Thomas Gibbons, Directed by Terrence Spivey
Inspired by real life events in Philadelphia, “A House With No Walls” dramatizes the conflict between a conservative African-American academic and an ultra-liberal, Afro-centric political activist as they battle over a proposed site for a new American Liberty Museum, which happens to be on the grounds of George Washington’s Philadelphia home and slave quarters. The play is a volatile exploration of whether or not African-Americans should embrace the legacy of slavery as their primary cultural identity or discard the mantle of “victim hood.”

Foot Soldiers For Freedom
Feb. 7 – Feb. 22 (Arena)
In May 1963, thousands of black youth took action by marching in non-violent protests against the segregation laws in Birmingham. Alabama succeeded in ending segregation in Birmingham. The play was written by Nicole C. Kearny and directed by Raquel Robinson

Dayton
Last February, the Victoria Theatre Association presented its first African-American Arts Festival. The month-long celebration was such a community success, a second festival has just been announced – and this time the events are spread throughout the entire arts season. With the month-long art exhibit “Visual Voices” this February as the centerpiece, Victoria Theatre Association’s 2008-2009 African-American Arts Festival will culminate in a performance of “The Color Purple” in April.

Oprah Winfrey presents The Color Purple
April 21 – 26, Schuster Center
“The Color Purple” is an inspiring family saga that tells the unforgettable story of a woman who – through love – finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discover her unique voice in the world. Set to a joyous score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel and blues, “The Color Purple” is a story of hope, a testament to the healing power of love and a celebration of life.

Looking for other ways to learn about black history in Ohio? Visit www.DiscoverOhio.com/blackhistory. Free Ohio Travel Planners and Ohio Calendars of Events can be ordered anytime night or day at www.DiscoverOhio.com. Travel counselors are available at 1-800-BUCKEYE to assist callers weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

About the Ohio Tourism Division
The Ohio Tourism Division is the premier source of information for travelers and media about Ohio's vibrant tourism experiences, attractions, and economy. Division marketing programs contributed to an estimated $38 billion in visitor sales in 2007 and 454,000 jobs sustained by visitors to the state. A part of the Ohio Department of Development, the Division's mission is to promote and celebrate Ohio's unique travel opportunities and market the state's outstanding quality of life.

###