Feb 23 2019
ArtsWave Days — Freedom Celebration

ArtsWave Days — Freedom Celebration

Presented by ArtsWave and National Underground Railroad Freedom Center at National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

What better way to celebrate Black History Month, the 55th anniversary of Freedom Summer and the arts than to experience it all together? In recognition of all of this and the 2019 ArtsWave Community Campaign, our partner, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is offering free admission all day.

While at the Freedom Center, you’ll experience a variety of arts that tell the story and struggle for civil rights. That’ll begin as you enter and experience our lobby performances by Ed "Sax" Thomas and various ensembles from the School for Creative and Performing Arts.

In the Grand Hall, you’ll see MYCincinnati present works from composers of the African Diaspora. Cincinnati Black Theatre Company will perform monologues from “For Colored Girls.” Sharon McCollum of Shanay Productions will recreate an urban radio show, similar to WCIN during the 1969 civil rights era. City Gospel Mission’s Princesses Ballet will portray freedom through dance. The Children’s Theatre will explore Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, through excerpts from Martin’s Dream, an unforgettable one-man show. Elementz will showcase spoken word, dance, rap and music from hip-hop culture.

It's all free as part of the 2019 ArtsWave Community Campaign!

ArtsWave Days is brought to you by Macy’s. Series sponsorship from Frisch’s Big Boy and Official Print Media Sponsorship from Enquirer Media.

Admission Info

ArtsWave Days is a free service to the community as part of the 2019 ArtsWave Community Campaign.

Dates & Times

2019/02/23 - 2019/02/23

Additional time info:

Performances in the Great Hall unless otherwise noted

MYCincinnati

MYCincinnati's Advanced String Ensemble will perform a selection of works written by composers of the African Diaspora, including Joseph de Bologne, Chavelier de Saint-Georges and others. 

Times: 11 a.m. to Noon

 

The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati

Who was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., really?  Martin's Dream answers this question and more as it brings this historical figure to life through the power of story, speech and song.  Watch as Dr. King tells the story of his life, from his childhood in the Deep South all the way to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.  Created and performed by the talented and charismatic Deondra Kamau Means, this one-man show explores the real person behind the pictures, a funny intelligent, passionate man whose faith, family and education made him one of the most revered people in our nation's history.

Time: Noon to 1 p.m.

 

Princesses Ballet
Performance in Harriet Tubman Theatre

Princesses is a ballet dance troupe made up of youth, ages 4-18, from under-resourced families and communities across Greater Cincinnati. 

Time: 1-2 p.m.

 

Cincinnati Black Theatre Company
Performance in Harriet Tubman Theatre

CBTC will perform monologues and highlights from Ntozake Shange's "for colored girls..." The play has inspired and transformed audiences all over and is seen as the Holy Grail of rites of passage plays for an entire generation of black women. Come celebrate the power of sisterhood, the female voice and bond that unites all women through CBTC's presentation of "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf!"

Time: 2-3 p.m.

 

Shanay Productions

Music and news commentaries from radio broadcasts in Cincinnati in 1969, the heart of civil rights America.

Time: 3-4 p.m.

 

Elementz

Hip Hop performance featuring Spoken Word, Dance, Rap and Music from Hip Hop Culture.

Time: 4-5 p.m.

 

Performances in the Lobby

Multiple groups from the School for Creative and Performing Arts

Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location Info

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

50 E Freedom Way , Cincinnati , OH 45202