- This event has passed.
THE WORD: An Evening of Empowered Poetry by African American Women
April 16, 2023 @ 3:00 pm - 9:30 pm
THE WORD: An Evening of Empowered Poetry by African American Women
Sunday, April 16 | 3 PM – 9:30 PM
Highways Performance Space
1651 18th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404
‘
In the second and final virtual project for the Highways 2023 Women’s History Month Series and two-night (donate-what-you-can) fundraiser to benefit Highways, viewers are taken on a virtual poetic journey over three centuries through words by Sojourner Truth; renowned 19th century writer-activist, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper; artist-activist icon, Dr. Maya Angelou; lauded actor-writer-activist; Beah Richards and artist-activist, Peggy Trotter Dammond Preacely, who was not only a SNCC Member/Freedom Rider, but is the great-great-granddaughter of renowned formerly enslaved abolitionists, Ellen & William Craft, the grandniece of famed civil rights activist, William Monroe Trotter, and the great-great-great-granddaughter of Mary Hemings Bell, sister of Sally Hemings.
In addition to Peggy performing an original poem written for this event, we are honored that award-winning writer-producer-director, Tina Andrews (Sally Hemings: An American Scandal, Why Do Fools Fall in Love, etc.), is returning to her performing roots to benefit Highways (where she debuted her play, Charlotte Sophia). Joining Peggy and Tina are Kenya Williams (Even Stevens, The Shield, etc.), as well as Portia Green and Giselle Vasquez-Jones, castmembers of The Summit, the first project for Highways’ 2023 Women’s History Month Series.
The finale is a groundbreaking short, A Black Woman Speaks 2020 that is a compelling cinematic take of Beah Richard’s historic 1951 poem, A Black Woman Speaks that showcases an extraordinary performance by April Grace (Berlin Station, Lost, Magnolia, etc.) The evening closes with an insightful interview of April and A Black Woman Speaks 2020 director, Chelsea Woods.
This is an artist-led event. For any question related to this event please visit https://www.highwaysperformance.org/
