August Salute to our African-American Theatre Griots
So, the ROUTES’ August homage to African-American theatre — the old stage productions interwoven with the upcoming 2021-2022 season productions — is finished. But we, the community must work together — to support and sustain our veritable independent pan African theatrical ideals.
Hopefully you are hot-to-trot and ever ready to offer financial support with a donation to a local theatre company, and needless-to-say, your plans are already in the making to see a production or two during the 2021-22 season. We’ve chosen a theatre company to give our $50 donation. Will you follow suit?
With your donation and active participation, African-American theatre will, perhaps, again reach production levels not seen since the 1970s and 1980s. Lend a helping hand, not limited to them paying their staffs, but also aiding them, optimistically, to purchase buildings in which to present their stagings. Check out the African-American theatre Companies list on the Home Page. If you don’t find your local theatre company listed, send us the information and we will add them. Hopefully all of these efforts will encourage additional companies to participate next year in ROUTES’ salute to our African-American Theatre actors, playwrights, producers, artistic directors, poets, story tellers and muscians.
Join ROUTES in supporting them — they are keeping our traditions alive. They are our Griots.
In September, ROUTES will salute a number of Pan African fashion designers. Below are the thoughts of Ionia Dunn Lee Cisse, Fashion Editor and Coreen Simpson, Photographer-at-large:
“September fashions always bring new trends, as designers around the world gear up for Fashion Week. Even though trends originate from many different sources, fashion designers are on the pulse of style and inspire trendsetting from the runway to the street. This month, we are celebrating Black designers who have made a conscious decision to represent our culture in an extraordinary ways in their designs in our community.”
In October, ROUTES will salute a number of Pan African Poets.
Our long-time-in-the-process ROUTES newsletter will debut in October — it’s FREE, for the moment! Fill out the subscription form at the bottom of the Home Page.