Wanda's Picks Radio Show, Wednesday, October 31, 2018

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

1. Ibrahima Seck is a member of the History department of University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar (UCAD), Senegal. His research is mostly devoted to the historical and cultural links between West Africa and Louisiana with a special interest for religious beliefs, music, foodways, and miscellaneous aspects of culture. Dr. Seck is now holding the position of Director of research of the Whitney Plantation Slavery Museum located in St. John the Baptist Parish in Louisiana. He is the author of a book on this historic site entitled “Bouki fait Gombo: A History of the Slave Community of Habitation Haydel (Whitney Plantation) Louisiana, 1750-1860. [New Orleans: UNO Press, 2014].
http://whitneyplantation.com/

2.Gason Ayisyin is a New Orleans-based photographer who immigrated to the United States as a young child from Haiti, and Karel Sloane-Boekbinder Ashe Programs assistant For Theatre Visual Art And Education at Ashé Cultural Arts Center join us to talk about the new exhibit at the Powerhouse "Loa"

Here are the links to the FB Live videos from  the Ashé Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/ashe.cac/videos/2212135588851266/

https://www.facebook.com/ashe.cac/videos/593448371071675/

Didier Civil Slideshow

3. Graham Lustig, Artistic Director, Oakland Ballet, Luna Mexicana, Nov. 2-3 at the Paramount Theatre, Oakland oaklandballet.org


4. Tom Bruett, director and Nick Hadikwa Mwaluko, dramaturg, joins us to talk about Cardboard Piano by Hansol Jung: Playing Oct 26 - Dec 2 at New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness Avenue, Lower Lobby, San Francisco, CA 94102. nctcsf.org

Tom Bruett is a director and playwright based in San Francisco. Tom is happy to be returning to NCTC after directing Le Switch and Birds of a Feather. Other directing credits include The Marriage Equality Plays at Fort Mason, Playground and a season as the Acting Director of New Works and producer of the annual New Works Festival at Theatreworks. Tom is a member of the writing pool at Playground and has had plays developed and produced at PianoFight, Gritty City Rep, PCSF, and the Johnny Mercer Project at Northwestern.

Nick Hadikwa Mwaluko was raised mostly in neighboring Kenya and other East and central African countries and lives in the United States. Nick is trans, queer, nb, etc. Nick was part of The Public Theater's (New York City) Emerging Writers' Group (EWG), Crowded Fire Writers' Lab (San Francisco), and countless other residencies. Nick has also dramaturged for the National Conservatory Theater Center (San Francisco) and New Conservatory Theatre Center (San Francisco). Nick graduated Magna Cum Laude from Columbia University (B.A.) and was a Point Scholar during Nick's entire MFA at Columbia University. Nick’s award-winning plays include Waafrika, Waafrika 1-2-3, They/Them, Asymmetrical We, Blueprint for a Lesbian Planet, Brotherly Love, Trailer Park Tundra, Once A Man Always A Man, Mama Afrika, Queering MacBeth, Life Is About the Kill, Homeless in the Afterlife, Ata, 37, S.T.A.R: Marsha P. Johnson, Jizz, and others. Nick's plays have been produced in New York City, New Jersey, Florida, Berkeley, San Francisco, Wisconsin, Paris, South Africa, Italy and other countries.

Show link:  http://tobtr.com/s/11007677

Wanda's Picks Radio Show: Wed., Oct. 24, 2018

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

1. We are joined in the studio by four black men, leaders at Positive Directions Equals Change, Inc. to speak about the agency's 25th Anniversary Gala, Sat., Nov. 2, 8 PM-12 AM, 1753 Carroll Avenue, in San Francisco: Calvin “Cregg” Johnson, affectionately known as “Big Cregg”, Reggie Boyer, Ron Thomas, and Executive Director, Cedric Akbar. Visit positivedirectionsequalschange.org

2. Gerald Lenoir, Strategy Analyst Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society at the Haas School, joins us to talk about the play, "Barbershop Chronicles" by Inua Ellams (10.26-28) at calperformances.org There is A Community Dialogue with Cast Members, Thursday, October 25, 7 pm to 9 pm at Benny Adem Grooming Parlor, 408 14th Street, Oakland. No charge. Light refreshments served. To RSVP email geraldlenoir@gmail.com

Bio:

Gerald Lenoir is the Identity and Politics Strategy Analyst working with the Haas Institute’s Network for Transformative Change. He was a consultant at the Haas Institute from 2014 to 2017. His work at the Haas Institute focuses on working with Haas staff and community, advocacy, labor and faith partners to organize the research, development and promotion of a strategic narrative that fosters structural inclusion and addresses marginalization and structural racialization as one of its central pillars. Gerald is the founding Executive Director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (2006—2014) and a founding steering committee member of the Black Immigration Network. He was the Executive Director of the San Francisco Black Coalition on AIDS (1989 – 1995) and cofounded the HIV Education and Prevention Project of Alameda County. He also cofounded Priority Africa Network in 2003 and has served on the board of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights since 2006. He is a former board member of the Interfaith Peace Builders and led its first African Heritage Delegation to Palestine/Israel in 2012.

Gerald graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He studied law at UCLA and marketing at the Graduate School of Business, University of Washington, Seattle. His opinion pieces and reporting on immigration, racial justice, apartheid, electoral politics, HIV/AIDS and other issues have appeared in Time Magazine, Black Scholar Magazine, the Oakland Tribune, The Los Angeles Sentinel, the Seattle Times, New America Media, commondreams.org, colorlines.org and other publications.

3. Champagne Hughes (Francine/Lena) in Altarena Playhouse production of Clybourne Park, by Bruce Norris, directed by Darren A.C. Carollo. Visit altarena.org or 510.523.1553

4. Ethel Long-Scott is Executive Director of the Women's Economic Agenda Project, (WEAP). She is known nationally and internationally for devoting her life to the education and leadership of people at the losing end of society, especially women of color. weap.org/, https://laney.edu/umoja-ubaka/

http://tobtr.com/s/11007671

Wanda's Picks Radio Show, Wed., Oct. 17, 2018

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

Guests:
1. Enoch Jemmott & Juliane Dressner.

After graduating Brooklyn Generation School, Enoch Jemmott worked as an intern for College Access: Research & Action, helping high school students prepare to work as peer college counselors in their schools. Enoch enrolled in SUNY Cortland in the fall of 2015. He joined the football team but during his Sophomore year, decided to instead run track. He is majoring in Communications.

Juliane Dressner is a director, producer and cinematographer who makes character based films that often focus on young people who are overcoming challenging circumstances. Her films have shed light on economic and racial justice issues in education and the criminal justice system (one example is THE SCARS OF STOP-AND-FRISK, which was published as an Op-Doc by The New York Times). She won the National Magazine Award for video for her short film, AN EDUCATION, which was published by The New York Times magazine. Her other short films have been published by The New York Times, The Guardian, The Atlantic, New York magazine, and Buzzfeed. PERSONAL STATEMENT is her first feature-length documentary.

The Film:
Personal Statement by Juliane Dressner and Edwin Martinez, follows three inspirational teens in Brooklyn who take it upon themselves to make a difference by becoming peer college counselors in their schools. They are high school seniors who are fighting to defy the odds not only for themselves but for every single one of their classmates. They have decided to become the very resource they don’t have themselves.

In the heart of Brooklyn, New York, Karoline Jimenez, Christine Rodriguez and Enoch Jemmott aspire to become the first generation in their families to attend and graduate college. But, like so many public school students throughout the country, their under-resourced schools don’t have enough college guidance support. That is why Karoline, Christine and Enoch have decided to do their part to close the college guidance gap. Personal Statement is an observational film that follows them through their senior year as they struggle to get themselves and their peers to college. The film’s narrative weaves their individual struggles, family life and their respective college application and admission processes.

2.  Jess Curtis/Gravity joins us to talk about Beyond Gravity, his latest showcase of new work with international, local and national artists including Gabriel Christian, who joins us as well to talk about aleph is for annals  (World Premiere), performed and created by jose e. abad and Gabriel Christian, featuring Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Beyond Gravity is October 25-27, 2018 at CounterPulse in San Francisco with a Pre-Show Haptic Access Tour and Audio Description by Jess Curtis on October 26 and ASL Interpretation on October 27 Tickets and information: http://counterpulse.org/event/beyond-gravity/  or 415-626-2060 and JessCurtisGravity.org

3. Joanna Haigood, Artistic Director and Choreographer, Zaccho Dance Theatre re: "Picture This: Bayview Hunters Point" at the Ruth Williams Opera House, Oct. 18-21, 8 pm (free). There is a post-show talk Friday, Oct. 19.

4. Thomas Simpson, Founder, Artistic Director and Nina Causey, actress, singer,  join us to talk about the 24th anniversary season the AfroSolo Arts Festival and its "Black Voices Performance Series: Our Voices, Our Lives," October 18 -21, 2018, at the Buriel Clay Theatre in the African American Art and Culture Complex, 762 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA. General Admission is $20, Seniors (65+) and youth (18 and under) $15. For more information, visit afrosolo.org or call (415) 771-2376. The AfroSolo Theatre Company continues to be a shining beacon of culture in San Francisco’s African American community by presenting the 24th annual performing arts season. Two programs will be presented.

PROGRAM 1: "Courage Under Fire: The Story of Elroy" is performed by AfroSolo founder and artistic director Thomas Robert Simpson on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 8 p.m. "Courage Under Fire" is a story about family, race, politics, and redemption. It explores the life of Elroy Simpson, AfroSolo founder Thomas Roberts Simpson’s father. Elroy committed a simple, everyday act that would become revolutionary.

PROGRAM 2: The "Our Stories, Our Lives!" performances will be presented from October 19 through October 21, 2018. Theme: "Our Day Has Come." Each performance will include five Bay Area performers including Nina Causey, Marshall Jarreau, Ayodele Nzinga, Kathryn Seabron and Thomas Robert Simpson. General Admission is $20; seniors and students $15.

"Our Stories, Our Lives" Performers

Nina Causey performs Dr. Mona Vaughn's "Horne to Horn," an enigmatic love story between Lena Horne and genius jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger Billy Strayhorn, mentored by Duke Ellington. After Strayhorn declined Lena Horns’ marriage proposal, they became best friends, sharing unconditional love. The pair traveled throughout the United States and the world, especially to Paris, sharing their music. They were also soldiers in the Civil Rights Movement, providing performances, funds and engaged in strategy sessions with Dr. Martin Luther King. Directed by Sean Vaughn. Music accompaniment by Max Perkoff.

Causey is an award-winning musician with numerous awards as a vocalist; she has also performed as a solo pianist. Causey has won numerous awards locally and nationally, including five BMA Awards. Nina is a seasoned jazz, blues, and neo-soul vocalist. She has graced the stage in such memorable roles as Lena Horne in “Horne to Strayhorn," “Cabin in the Sky,” and “The Cotton Club Revue.” She has also performed as Dorothy Dandridge in the starring role as “Carmen Jones” and Billie Holiday in the starring role of “Lady Sings the Blues.”

Thomas Robert Simpson performs "San Francisco, Open Your Golden Gate, a true story in the day in the life of Simpson. Through drama, comedy, and media, Simpson weaves a stirring story of a specific day. The day consists of leading a community health fair, a jazz/rock concert, a walk through San Francisco, and an unbelievable racial encounter. The day also includes sailboat racing, a famous comedy team, and a live concert.

Simpson is a writer, producer, performer, photographer, and founder and artistic director of the award-winning AfroSolo Arts Festival.

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Shortlink: http://tobtr.com/11007665