The Evidence of Things Not Seen at Clarice Smith, Sep 14, 5:30pm

The Evidence of Things Not Seen at Clarice Smith, Sep 14, 5:30pm

ACTnow: The Evidence of Things Not Seen
Reanimating Traditions of Black Puppetry and Object Performance
Lecture

Thursday, September 14, 2023 • 5:30PM

Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

A dialogue on puppetry and object performance as a powerful means of resistance to the objectification of Black bodies. Nehprii Amenii, writer and director of Food for the Gods and Dr. Paulette Richards, author of Object Performance in the Black Atlantic will ground the audience in the historical development of African-American puppetry and discuss the power of puppetry to redress cultural erasure and foster community healing. Light refreshments will be available.

Join us for the public performance December 7-9, 2023 at The Clarice: Nehprii Amenii: Food for the Gods

Free lecture, registration required. For more information and to register to attend, click here.

Out of the Vineyard at Joe’s Movement Emporium, Sep 8-24

Out of the Vineyard at Joe’s Movement Emporium, Sep 8-24

Joe’s Movement Emporium presents:
Out of the Vineyard
by Psalmayene 24

Opening Night! Friday September 8, 2023 7:30 pm
Saturday September 9, 2023 3 pm
Saturday September 9, 2023 7:30 pm
Sunday September 10, 2023 3 pm
Wednesday September 13, 2023 7:30 pm
Thursday September 14, 2023 11 am
Thursday September 14, 2023 7:30 pm
Friday September 15, 2023 11 am
Friday September 15, 2023 7:30 pm
Saturday September 16, 2023 3 pm
Saturday September 16, 2023 7:30 pm
Sunday September 17, 2023 3 pm
Monday September 18, 2023 7:30 pm
Wednesday September 20, 2023 7:30 pm
Thursday September 21, 2023 7:30 pm
Friday September 22, 2023 11 am
Friday September 22, 2023 7:30 pm
Saturday September 23, 2023 3 pm
Saturday September 23, 2023 7:30 pm
Sunday September 24, 2023 3 pm

Location: Joe’s Movement Emporium.

Over the last year, we dug deeper into the Freedom Stories Initiative alongside playwright Psalmayene 24 (Psalm), who was inspired by Dr. William G. Thomas’ book of history “A Question of Freedom”. The book follows the story of the longest and most complex legal challenge to slavery in American history. Psalm referenced Prince George’s County’s rich history as he created the play Out of the Vineyard, weaving together monologues that excavate a buried chapter in American history while illuminating how the legacy of slavery still affects us.

Out of the Vineyard is directed by director-choreographer Tony Thomas and features actors Scott Abernethy, Frank Britton, Adrienne Nelson, and Jacqueline Youm. The design team includes costume designer Jeannette Christensen, sound design by Nick Hernandez, lighting design by Luis Garcia, set design by Shartoya Jn. Baptiste, and media design by Christian Henriquez. The production will be stage managed by Kate Kilbane.

The Freedom Stories initiative is a program partnership between Prince George’s County Memorial Library System, Prince George’s Community College Center for Performing Arts, Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights, and Joe’s Movement Emporium. The commissioned play Out of the Vineyard is made possible by the generous support of PGCMLS Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Busboys and Poets, Maryland Humanities Counsel, if, A Foundation for Radical Possibility, Maryland Milestones, National Endowment for the Arts, Adelphi Friends Meeting, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, and individual donors.

The premiere of Out of the Vineyard will take place from Friday, September 8th to Sunday, September 24th at Joe’s Movement Emporium. Each performance will have a post-show discussion with guest facilitators.

*Recommended for audiences ages 10+, with some adult language and discussions of systemic racism.

Adults $40, Student/Senior/Veteran $25. Click here.

NextNOW Fest 2023 at Clarice Smith, Sep 7-14

NextNOW Fest at Clarice Smith, Sep 7-14

2023 NextNOW Fest
Where Creativity and Community Converge

September 5 – 14, 2023

Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

Join us for our 10th Anniversary!

The Clarice’s NextNOW Fest is celebrating 10 years of creativity and community this September, and we want you to be a part of it! Save the date and join us for this annual celebration of our UMD and local creative community.

Started in 2014, The Clarice’s annual NextNOW Fest is an inspiring arts experience that celebrates imagination, creativity and community. By amplifying the voices of intriguing, inventive artists from around campus and our community, NextNOW Fest creates a forward-looking microcosm where art transforms our future and connects us all.

NextNOW Fest is a signature event in University of Maryland’s Arts for All initiative, which leverages the combined power of the arts, technology and social justice to address the grand challenges of our time.

Stay tuned to the latest event information and news by registering for updates!

For more information and to register for updates, click here.

The Motherland Comedy Festival at the Bowie CPA, Sep 3

The Motherland Comedy Festival at the Bowie CPA, Sep 3

Cee… Y! presents:
The Motherland Comedy Festival

Sunday September 3, 2023 at 6pm

Location: Bowie Center for the Performing Arts.

Cee… Y! presents The Motherland Comedy Festival, featuring Dude in da corner, Mary Love, MC Attraction, Koffi Williams, Anna Mwalagho, Jedi, Holy Mallam, Alfred Kainga, Abdul Jalloh, Bibi Candy, and Grandkomanda.

Tickets: $50 to $100. Click here.

Watkins Nature Center Puppet Show, Sep 1 & 8 at 10am

Watkins Nature Center Puppet Show, Aug 11-Nov 10 at 10am

Puppet Friends in Storyland
Watkins Nature Center at Watkins Park presents a nature-themed puppet show and a chance to meet an animal.

Appropriate for ages 2 to 3, with an adult.

Each session is two Fridays from 10:00 to 10:45am:
September 1 & 8, 2023
October 6 & 13, 2023
November 3 & 10, 2023

Watkins Nature Center, Location: 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro MD 20774, Phone: 301-218-6702

Puppet Friends in Storyland.

Join us for an interactive lesson with a hands-on activity. Your little one will play, laugh, and dance with their puppet pals while they work on social skills, early literacy development, listening, communication, fine motor skills, attention span, and their creativity!

Enjoy a nature story time! Listen to animal puppets as they read you a story about their family, and then join them and a naturalist as they led you through a nature themed craft! A different show each month!

Tickets: $10 for 2 sessions. Click here.