Oct. 18: Jasmine Guy and the Avery Sharpe Trio star in 'Raisin' Cane: A Harlem Renaissance Odyssey' at CLC
"Raisin' Cane: A Harlem Renaissance Odyssey," starring Jasmine Guy and the Avery Sharpe Trio, will be performed at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at the College of Lake County.
The show, which incorporates text, song, music, movement, imagery, stories and jazz music of the 1920s Harlem Renaissance, stars the multi-talented Guy (from "The Cosby Show" and "A Different World") and acclaimed bassist Avery Sharpe. "Raisin' Cane" was inspired by the classic 1923 Jean Toomer novel "Cane." For more information, visit www.raisincanethetour.com. Promotional support is being provided by WDCB 90.9.
"Raisin' Cane" highlights the American black community during the years leading up to the Harlem Renaissance, when artistic expression was building. Outlets and avenues for black poets, musicians, novelists, artists and actors were few. But in 1918, as World War I concluded and thousands of African-American soldiers returned home, this artistic expression exploded. The words and thoughts of authors Jean Toomer, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Zora Neale Hurston, W.E.B. Du Bois and others became the voice of a new generation of African-Americans who were looking forward but still struggling with the past and present. In "Raisin' Cane," these thoughts, songs and images are woven into a panoramic experience that spans this outpouring of artistic endeavor.
Jasmine Guy has a regular presence on film, television and stage. She was the star of the Bill Cosby spin-off "A Different World," for which she won six consecutive NAACP Image Awards. Her TV work includes "The Vampire Diaries," "Melrose Place," "NYPD Blue" and "Dead Like Me." A former dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Guy has also appeared in a range of Broadway and national productions including "Chicago," "Grease" and "The Wiz." On film, she starred in Spike Lee's "School Daze" as well as "Harlem Nights" and "Stompin' at the Savoy." She is also a director, writer and speaker.
Avery Sharpe is considered one of the greatest jazz bassists of his generation. He has performed and toured with many of the world's top jazz musicians, including Wynton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie, Cab Calloway, Bobby McFerrin, Pay Metheny and others. Sharpe's extraordinary compositional skills are on display in "Raisin' Cane." His works have been performed by orchestras to the Grammy Award-winning jazz recordings of Michael Brecker and McCoy Tyner. Sharpe is joined by the renowned percussionist Kevin Sharpe and acclaimed jazz violinist Diane Monroe. The Arizona Daily Star called the show "… a sweet salute to Harlem's Glory Days!"
Tickets: Regular tickets: $48/42/38; Senior/Staff/Alumni: $47/41/37; CLC Student/Teen: $15; and Children: $12. A $2 per ticket JLC facility fee will be added at the time of purchase. Other fees may apply to Internet purchases. CLC student tickets are not available for online purchase. Teen and children tickets must be purchased with adult priced tickets.
For more information or to order tickets, visit www.clcillinois.edu/tickets or call (847) 543-2300 (option 5). The Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Groups of six or more people are eligible for discounted ticket prices. Call (847) 543-2431 or email JLCgroupsales@clcillinois.edu for more information.
To request a James Lumber Center subscription brochure or the 2014-15 CLC cultural arts calendar, which includes professional series as well as college-sponsored events such as music concerts, theatre and dance productions, films, art exhibits, literary events and much more, call (847) 543-2300 or join the mailing list at www.clcillinois.edu/tickets.