| The African Continuum Theatre Company (ACTCo) concludes its 2000-2001 season
with a production of "Spunk," three tales by Zora Neale Hurston that have
been adapted by Tony Award-winning author/director George C. Wolfe, with
music by Chic Street Man. The play weaves together three heartwarming stories
that will no doubt appeal to the entire family. And they are quintessential
Hurston slices of black life. The novelist, dramatist, and folklorist was a
pioneering member of the Harlem Renaissance literati. Her research focused on
black folklore and her writings, including her most famous, the novel Their E
yes Were Watching God, vividly capture the uniqueness of our language and the
nuances of our social interactions.
In the first tale, "Sweat" . . . Delia looks up from her washing pile, wipes
the sweat from her brow and looks out for that ornery husband of hers. Next,
"Story in Harlem Slang," . . . Jelly struts down a Harlem street intent on
outdoing his zoot-suited friend, Sweet Back. In the last tale, "The Gilded
Six-Bits," . . . behind a white picket fence, laughter fills the small clean
home where Missie Mae and Joe sit down to a meal of ham hocks, string beans,
and spicy potato pudding. There are juke joints and rattlesnakes, cane
chewin' and of course... the blues.
"Spunk" runs through August 12 in the Kennedy Center's AFI Theater. Tickets
are $23.00 Friday and Saturday, $20.00 Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. For
tickets call 202-467-4600
If you prefer your stage performances with a little more movement and lot
less dialogue, then check out Eleone Dance Theatre in "Still Holding On" at
Dance Place on July 28 and 29. The Philadelphia troupe brings a soul-stirring
dance concert to the District that blends rhythm and blues, African, hip hop
and spiritual techniques with contemporary modern dance. And area audiences
better watch out because the dance company boasts that they are "more than
just a performing dance company, Eleone is a dance experience."
These two evenings of versatile contemporary dance will feature works by
Shawn Lamere Williams, E Leon Evans, Abdel R. Salaam, Faye B. Snow, Warren
Griffin and Derrick Sellers. In his piece, " Sea We," Salaam explores
sea-life in an aquatic setting fusing modern and African dance techniques. In
"Venus," Griffin will exemplify the depths of female relationships in his
contemporary suite to the music of popular R&B recording artist, Jill Scott.
Morris created a spiritual solo work, "Singing Soul" while Snow will showcase
her work, "So Help Me God," a rhythm and blues solo piece
Tickets are $17 general admission, $14 in advance only for members, students,
seniors, artists, $10 children & teens 17 & under. Call 202-269-1600.
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