|
News
Dowling College Presents an Original Production for African American
History Month
Enjoy the Sights and Sounds of Africa in the Epic of Sunjata
|
| Click picture to enlarge. |
The Loft Theatre at Dowling College is proud to present an original
adaptation of the West African Epic of Sunjata; a spectacle of drama,
dance and music featuring the authentic griot Abdoulaye "Djoss"
Diabate and his band from Mali. Directed and choreographed by Tracy
Bersley and adapted by Ms. Bersley and the Loft's Artistic Director
Andrew Karp, the Epic of Sunjata is a 13th century oral folktale. This
folktale is still sung in Mali and around the world and recounts the
miraculous coming of age of a seemingly crippled boy, Sunjata. With the
help of his own griot (singer/storyteller), Sunjata has to overcome
countless obstacles; from an evil step-mother and step-brother, to a
sorcerer king who fashions chairs from human skin, from exile to
self-doubt, to rise up, regain his homeland and become ruler of the
great empire of Mali.
The Epic of Sunjata features live music, under the direction of Dowling
faculty member and guitarist David Racanelli, world renowned West
African singer/griot, Abdoulaye "Djoss" Diabate, one of Africa's
most charismatic singers and accomplished guitarists with a smile that
could light up a whole city. With a cast of eight, an incredible set by
Loft resident set designer Jeff Van Velsor of McCarter Theater in
Princeton, costumes by Loft's resident designer and Dowling faculty
member Elissa Iberti, and light design by Jen Schriever, the Epic of
Sunjata promises to be a joyous, foot-stomping, heart-wrenching
spectacular that will light up the hearts of audiences of all ages.
With a professional design team, actors from New York City, and an
intimate black box theatre, the Loft presents an Off-Broadway quality
production right in your own backyard!
The show runs from Feb. 29-March 16. Show dates are as follows:
Fridays, Feb. 29, March 7 & March 14 at 8 pm; Saturdays March 1, 8 & 15
at 8 pm; Sundays March 2, 9 & 16 at 4 pm; and a special early bird
performance on Thursday, March 6 at 6:00 pm. Ticket prices are as
follows: $15 Donation ($12 for Dowling faculty, staff, alumni; $10 for
students, children and seniors). For reservations, call 244-5037 or
visit www.dowling.edu/loft. Tickets can also be purchased in advance
from TheaterMania.com.
About Dowling College
Dowling College is an independent, coeducational college that serves more than 6,500 students at
its historic Rudolph Campus on the banks of the Connetquot River in Oakdale, NY, and the 105-acre
Brookhaven Campus in eastern Long Island and a business center located near the Nassau-Suffolk
border in Melville. Dowling offers Bachelor′s, Master′s, and Doctoral degrees in several
disciplines through its four schools: Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Education.
|
