Congo Square Theater Announces Festival On The Square
June 5, 2012 Michael J. Roberts
Congo Square Theater is happy to announce the return of its annual multimedia art series, Festival on the Square, to be presented at Stage 773 in the Southport Corridor.
WHAT: The Festival on the Square is a collaborative series of multimedia experiences featuring film, music and dance, conceived by Artistic Director, Daniel Bryant, and presented annually by Congo Square Theatre Company. The 2011/2012 season theme, Presence, Power, Perspective: Honoring the Black Woman, will be the anchor for this year's festival, and feature exclusive presentations of Eisa Davis' Bulrusher, as directed by Congo Square Ensemble member, TaRon Patton. Bulrusher, a 2007 finalist for a Pulitzer prize,tells the story of a clairvoyant orphan in the 1950s, whose exposure to the tribulations of the civil rights movement as she embarks upon on a journey of self-discovery, threatens to shatter the foundation of all she knows.
An array of talent from within the Congo Square Theater ensemble, as well as talent from within Chicago's diverse music, film and art communities will converge to share experiences and perform unique works throughout the festival weekend. Performances, screenings and round table discussions held during Festival on the Square will honor the original Congo Square and the legacy of the weekend gatherings among people of color in New Orleans.
New Orleans' Faubourg Treme is arguably the oldest African American neighborhood in the United States, and Congo Square was the market place for diverse people of color to commune through music and dance, to enjoy the cultures of their homeland. Throughout the weekend of interactive art experiences, Congo Square Theater aims to expand the annual event to further develop artistic dialogue and to encourage artists and organizations to come together to relish the cultural expression of those times through the arts.
WHEN: Kicks off at 7:30pm Thursday June 14, 2012, ending 5:00pm Sunday June 17, 2012
Thursday 6/14 7:30pm-9:30pm – BULRUSHER Presentation
10:00 pm – Midnight – She Say/He Say Solo Performances
Friday 6/15 7:30pm – 9:30pm – 1st Impressions – Screening/Discussion
Good Hair and other Dubious DistinctionsSaturday 6/16 7:30pm-9:30pm – BULRUSHER Presentation
10:00 pm – Midnight – Poetry Set
Sunday 6/17 1:00pm – 2:30pm Round Table Discussion –
Our Art Is Not Our Own – Reclaming Our Authentic First Voice
3:00pm – 5:00pm BULRUSHER Presentation
WHERE: Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657 773-327-5252
TICKETS: $10 (Festival Day Pass), $30 (Festival Weekend Pass); Purchase tickets by calling 773-296-1108 or visiting www.congosquaretheatre.org
Congo Square Theater Company is an ensemble-based entity that seeks to broaden the scope of the theater-going experience. The ensemble's effort matches education and the performances of productions that push the envelope in the telling of the diverse stories from within the African Diaspora – that ultimately resonate throughout humanity. Congo Square was founded in 1999 by two talented and determined theater artists with a commitment to artistic excellence. For more on Congo Square Theatre Company – visit http://www.congosquaretheatre.org
About Festival on the Square:
Conceived in 2010, Festival on the Square is an annual event honoring the original Congo Square and the legacy of the weekend gatherings among people of color in New Orleans. Congo Square was the market place for diverse people of color to commune through music and dance, to enjoy the cultures of their homeland. Congo Square Theater aims to create an annual event that encourages artists and organizations to come together to relish the cultural expression of those times through the arts.
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