Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum News


	For Immediate Release: March 27, 2009	Contact: David Blanchette (217) 558-8970
	The Black Rep schedules performance, workshop April 3 - 4 at Presidential Library and Museum Springfield, IL — The world renowned St. Louis Black Repertory Company, known as The Black Rep, has scheduled performances and a workshop April 3 - 4 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) in downtown Springfield. The programs are funded by a grant from the Susan Cook House Trust and administered by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation. "The Strong Men," will be performed Friday, April 3 in the Presidential Museum's Union Theater at 7:00 p.m. The show is free and open to the public. Reservations may be made by calling (217) 558-8934. A repeat performance of "Singing, Dancing and Shouting Home," scheduled for 1:00 p.m. has sold out. "The Strong Men" is based upon a poem by distinguished poet, critic and scholar Sterling A. Brown and was conceived by Ron Himes, founder and producing director of The Black Rep and the Henry E. Hampton, Jr. Artist-in-Residence at Washington University in St. Louis. A "choreo-poem," the show displays the powerful voices and delicate humor of African Americans who have made major contributions to American history. The Black Rep brings to vivid life some of the verses, which show how poetry can be spoken, sung and danced as a window to the self and to our world. Selected poems featured in the production include "The Creation," by James Weldon Johnson and "I, Too, Sing America," by Langston Hughes. The show is for all ages, but especially students in grades 6 through 12 and runs approximately 50 minutes. A question and answer segment with the actors will follow the performance. A free theatre arts workshop from the country's premier African American theatre company will also be offered. "Cooperative Games" will be offered Saturday, April 4 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. In this fun and playful session, participants will develop cooperation, creative self expression, quick thinking, positive behavior skills, self-confidence, conflict resolution and imagination through cooperative and improvisational games. The session will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and space is limited. Registration is required, and participants can register by calling (217) 558-8929. The session is suitable for ages 7 and up and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Educators are offered 1.5 CPDUs for completing the session. The St. Louis Black Repertory Company performances and workshops are presented by the Education and Shows Divisions of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (www.presidentlincoln.org). The Black Rep is Missouri's only professional black theater company and the state's largest culturally specific arts organization. In just 32 years The Black Rep has transformed from an ambitious college project that provided more acting opportunities to African American students into one of the nation's leading professional theatre companies. Visit www.theblackrep.org for more information ###