University of Louisvile: Black Theatre Group Invited to China
- By News Hound
- Published 07/8/2007
- Theatre
- Unrated
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View all articles by News HoundUniversity of Louisvile: Black Theatre Group Invited to China
By Nancy C. Rodriguez
Black theatre group at U of L will visit
The University of Louisville's African American Theatre Program has clocked many travel miles the past few years, performing in Mississippi, South Africa and, this past spring, in New York City.
In December, the group will head to a different corner of the world -- Xiamen City in southern China -- on the first leg of what organizers hope is an exchange program between U of L and Xiamen University.
Program leaders received a personal invitation from Jasmin Lambert, a theater history professor at Xiamen, to perform at her university -- and, in the process, dispel misconceptions some Chinese may have about African Americans.
"Many Chinese are not clear about the identity of African Americans or their place in American society," said Lambert. "Their immediate feeling is that all Americans are only of European ancestry."
Still, Lambert said, she has found the Chinese are very interested in learning about America and African Americans. "They are so open and they want to learn and know more," she said.
Xiujie Sun, program coordinator for the U of L International Center who has been helping orchestrate the exchange, said it is the first time she knows of a collegiate theater program visiting China.
Lambert worked to set up the program with Lundeana Thomas, who is director of the African American Theatre program at U of L and previously taught Lambert at Spelman College in Atlanta and later at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
Their hope is that Chinese students will visit U of L in 2008.
Lambert, who grew up in New York, said she moved to China almost four years ago without knowing how to speak Chinese. As the only African American professor at her university and in the city, she said she finds people often are surprised to learn she is American.
Thomas said about 20 students will participate in the cultural exchange Dec. 2-18 and perform in three productions: "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters," "Seven Stops to Freedom" and "Harlem Renaissance Revue."
The group plans to visit Beijing and Kunming in addition to Xiamen City.
Andrea Reynolds, who recently graduated from U of L but continues to work with the program providing musical accompaniment, said she is "very excited" about the prospect of making the trip.
"I've never been there, and I'm very excited about experiencing the culture and bringing our culture to them," said Reynolds, who last fall was named Miss Black Kentucky.
U of L's African American Theatre Program was founded in the fall of 1993 as a special discipline within the university's Theatre Arts Program. The program offers eight undergraduate and one graduate course exploring African American theatre, production and performance. The program is the only one in the country that offers students the opportunity to earn one of two minors and a graduate certificate.
Reporter Nancy Rodriguez can be reached at (502) 582-7079.
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070630/NEWS01/706300424/1008
Black theatre group at U of L will visit
The University of Louisville's African American Theatre Program has clocked many travel miles the past few years, performing in Mississippi, South Africa and, this past spring, in New York City.
In December, the group will head to a different corner of the world -- Xiamen City in southern China -- on the first leg of what organizers hope is an exchange program between U of L and Xiamen University.
Program leaders received a personal invitation from Jasmin Lambert, a theater history professor at Xiamen, to perform at her university -- and, in the process, dispel misconceptions some Chinese may have about African Americans.
"Many Chinese are not clear about the identity of African Americans or their place in American society," said Lambert. "Their immediate feeling is that all Americans are only of European ancestry."
Still, Lambert said, she has found the Chinese are very interested in learning about America and African Americans. "They are so open and they want to learn and know more," she said.
Xiujie Sun, program coordinator for the U of L International Center who has been helping orchestrate the exchange, said it is the first time she knows of a collegiate theater program visiting China.
Lambert worked to set up the program with Lundeana Thomas, who is director of the African American Theatre program at U of L and previously taught Lambert at Spelman College in Atlanta and later at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
Their hope is that Chinese students will visit U of L in 2008.
Lambert, who grew up in New York, said she moved to China almost four years ago without knowing how to speak Chinese. As the only African American professor at her university and in the city, she said she finds people often are surprised to learn she is American.
Thomas said about 20 students will participate in the cultural exchange Dec. 2-18 and perform in three productions: "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters," "Seven Stops to Freedom" and "Harlem Renaissance Revue."
The group plans to visit Beijing and Kunming in addition to Xiamen City.
Andrea Reynolds, who recently graduated from U of L but continues to work with the program providing musical accompaniment, said she is "very excited" about the prospect of making the trip.
"I've never been there, and I'm very excited about experiencing the culture and bringing our culture to them," said Reynolds, who last fall was named Miss Black Kentucky.
U of L's African American Theatre Program was founded in the fall of 1993 as a special discipline within the university's Theatre Arts Program. The program offers eight undergraduate and one graduate course exploring African American theatre, production and performance. The program is the only one in the country that offers students the opportunity to earn one of two minors and a graduate certificate.
Reporter Nancy Rodriguez can be reached at (502) 582-7079.
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070630/NEWS01/706300424/1008
