Tickets available at The O'Shaughnessy Ticket Office in person or by calling 651-690-6700
Tickets also available online at www.ticketmaster.com
School show sponsored in part by a generous donation from Cub Foods
Show Date:
February, 21st at 7:30PM
Prices:
$25 - Adult
$16 - Students and Children under 12
$23 - MPR Members
and Groups of 10+
$23 - CSC Faculty/Staff/Alum
$10 CSC Student Tickets
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ain't I a Woman! Is a Chamber Music Theatre work for actress and trio (cello, piano, percussion).
It celebrates the life and times of four African American women: ex-slave and fiery abolitionist
Sojouner Truth, renowned novelist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, exuberant folk artist
Clementine Hunter, and fervent civil rights worker Fannie Lou Hamer. The musical score
is drawn from the heartfelt spirituals of the Deep South, the urban exuberance of the
Jazz Age, and contemporary concert music by African Americans.
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:
“I have borne children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with a mother's grief,
none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman? – Sojourner Truth
“Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity to ‘jump at the sun'.
We might not land on the sun but at least we would get off the ground” – Zora Neale Hurston
“Paintin's a lot harder than pickin' cotton. Cotton's right there for you to pull off the stalk, but to paint,
you got to sweat yo' mind” – Clementine Hunter
“I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired...We didn't come all this way for no two seats!” – Fannie Lou Hamer
Sojourner Truth was a woman of remarkable intelligence despite her illiteracy. An ex-slave and fiery abolitionist,
a figure of imposing physique, a riveting preacher and spellbinding singer who dazzled listeners with her wit and
originality. Truth became a national symbol for strong black women - indeed for all strong women. Zora Neale Hurston
is regarded by many as the leading African American woman writer. As one of the first people to recognize the power
and importance of African American folklore, she traveled the South, gathering folk tales which she collected and
published. Hurston was a dynamic personality who lived a dramatic life; achieving fame, but dying in obscurity.
Clementine Hunter is recognized as one of America's leading folk artists, depicting the rural life of African Americans
in the South. Her bold exuberant style defies conventions of traditional art and is deeply personal and moving.
Fannie Lou Hamer had little formal education, but became a dynamic speaker and civil rights worker whose special
energy and persistence in the face of tremendous obstacles such as childhood polio and physical and economic
retaliation for her numerous actions in the cause of civil rights.
About the Writer,
Kim Hines
From childhood, Minneapolis Minnesota native Kim Hines has pursued a multifaceted career as a playwright, actor, and
stage director. Works written by Ms. Hines have been performed throughout the United States including at the Kennedy
Center in Washington D.C. She is a recipient of the Bush Fellowship Award and also the Minnesota State Arts Board Grant
for playwrighting. Ms. Hines holds a BA in Speech & Theater and Visual Art from Macalester College. She is currently an Associate Artist at Illusion Theater in Minneapolis and writes a column for the MN Women's Press called "Hines Sight."
About the Director,
Akin Babatunde
Mr. Babatunde is an accomplished actor, director, and writer, whose theatrical experiences encompass the regional, off-Broadway and Broadway stages. He has been a resident company member of several prestigious theatres around the U.S.: Trinity Repertory Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island, The Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas, the LaMama Theatre in New York City and the Dallas Theatre Center.
As a director his most recent projects have been at New Stage Theatre in Jackson, Mississippi ("Death of A Salesman"), Arkansas Repertory Theatre in Little Rock, and the Arena Stage in Baltimore Maryland.
Mr. Babatunde is the recipient of several awards for his work as director and actor including The Dallas Observer Award, Dallas Critics' Forum, D Magazine and Providence Journal Best of the Best, a Princess Grace Foundation nomination, and an Audelco Award nomination. He was the founder and Artistic Director of Vivid Theatre Ensemble and Performing Arts Caravan.
With the Core Ensemble, Akin Babatunde toured from 1998-2006 in Of Ebony Embers: Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance , which has been performed in every region of the United States and in the Caribbean
Information about this show was taken directly from the Core Ensamble's website - for more info about the show
and Core Ensamble - please visit them online at
http://www.core-ensemble.cc/aiw.htm
