The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado has donated $5,000 to The Spirituals Project in support of the 4th Annual Spirituals Project Gala, to be held this weekend, November 3-5 at the University of Denver’s Newman Center for the Performing Arts. The Spirituals Project is dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of the sacred folk songs sung by enslaved Africans during the 18th and 19th centuries. In collaboration with Shadow Theatre, the performance, “The Spirit of Frederick Douglass,” will celebrate an important piece of African-American culture and history.
The Spirituals Project Choir, a 75-person community volunteer choir, will first present a program of African-American spirituals, arranged for concert performance by some of the country’s brightest and most creative young composers. The Gala will then feature the world premiere showing of a new work that draws from speeches and letters of the great African-American leader Frederick Douglass, who was one of the most prolific public figures of 19th century America. His message of struggle, human rights, and social justice remains fresh and vibrant. This play features dynamic performances by Jeffrey Nickelson and Hugo Jon Sayles, and utilizes the full choir singing music from Douglass’ time.
A private dinner reception will be hosted by Mayor John Hickenlooper and Helen Thorpe and is sponsored by University of Denver Provost Gregg Kvistad.
Event details:
“The Spirit of Frederick Douglass,” accompanied by the Spirituals Project Choir
University of Denver
Newman Center for the Performing Arts
2344 E. Iliff Ave in Denver
Saturday, November 4, 2006 at 8:00 pm (dinner reception: 6:00 pm)
Sunday, November 5, 2006 at a special matinee time of 3:00 pm
Tickets: Adults $25-$35; Students/Seniors $22-32.
November 4 fundraising reception and performance tickets cost $100.
Additionally, an educational performance and open dress rehearsal will be offered to 800 students on Friday, November 3 at 7:00 p.m. This unique cultural outreach event has been offered to Colorado schools as an extracurricular supplement to their American history curriculum with a presentation of key events during the Civil War. The Spirituals Project created workbooks providing background on spirituals and interactive exercises to bring the history to life in the classroom, and the concert performance by The Spirituals Project Choir brings these lessons full circle with an enriching musical experience.
Tickets can be purchased at the Newman Center Box Office at 303-871-7820 or through Ticketmaster at 303.830.8497.
“This uplifting performance will inspire everyone who sees it to reflect on their own roots, culture and historical connections. The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado is proud to sponsor an event that has such personal and emotional significance for the African-American community,” said Mary Lou Makepeace, executive director for the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado.
About The Spirituals Project and Shadow Theatre
The Spirituals Project is a broad-based initiative to explore the many, varied dimensions of African-American spirituals as art form, tradition and tool; and to invite all people to experience the joy and power of this dynamic music and gift from African-Americans to the world. Spirituals uplift in times of crisis, heal, comfort, inspire and instill hopes and dreams, thereby transforming individuals, communities, and whole societies. Our goal is to ensure that the spirituals will be passed on for many generations to come.
Shadow Theatre’s mission is to develop cultural awareness through theatre and to provide an understanding, respect and appreciation of our history and culture as expressed from the heart of the human condition. Shadow Theatre Company consistently seeks to provide a vehicle of artistic expression for Colorado’s indigenous actors, artists, and writers that will be non-exclusive to any and all cultural communities and take responsibility for educating children through an “edutainment” format designed to empower youth by promoting positive peer influence with a primary focus on African-American and Latino youth.
About the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado
The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado was established in 1996 as a program to financially support nonprofit organizations that enhance the quality of life in Colorado and promote equality for all people. Since its inception, the fund has awarded more than $16 million to hundreds of nonprofits whose program areas include arts and culture, civic leadership, healthy families and public broadcasting. In addition to providing financial assistance, the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado offers training programs, workshops, technical assistance and public meeting space to strengthen nonprofits’ ability to grow, flourish and succeed. The organization is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. For more information please visit www.gayandlesbianfund.org.
About the Funds
The Gay & Lesbian Fund receives an annual financial allocation from the Gill Foundation, its parent organization. This allocation must be donated in the form of grants to nonprofit organizations that meet two specific requirements: they must have an IRS 501(c)(3) status and adhere to a nondiscrimination policy inclusive of sexual orientation. These monies typically amount to approximately 18 to 20 percent of the amount earned on Gill Foundation’s investments and, in accordance with IRS regulations, are not used for private or political purposes.
