Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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12 JANUARY 20-26, 2016 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM In the 1970s, The Wiz took Broadway by storm revamping The Wizard of Oz with an all-black cast in a super soul musical. Now, Cape Fear Regional Theatre is embracing the story and showcasing it as a part of their 2015-2016 season. First time CFRT guest director Donna Baldwin-Bradby admits that this is her favorite show and her passion for the musical is evident in her excitement and that of her actors. "I remember seeing this show thinking this little girl [Dorothy] looks like me. It changed my life," said Baldwin-Bradby. "The journey that Dorothy goes through is like everyday life. You can get disheveled; you can go through what you think is the worst, but you are better in the end. That's what I want the audience to know and feel." The story of Dorothy going through the tornado, landing in Oz, meeting her friends is all there in The Wiz, but fans of the original Baum work will find that it follows his story even closer than the 1939 film changing the iconic ruby red slippers to silver shoes, involving the four original witches as opposed to just the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the North and more that avid book readers can identify with in this stage production. Those changes make this musical even more of a treat and challenge the audience to remem - ber their favorite books from childhood. Not only does the musical stay true to the original work, the audience may be surprised not to find an actual yellow brick road, a field of poppies or even stage effects creating a tornado. Those parts of the show are played by actors and dancers as moving parts making the show a thrilling way to spend a night — or afternoon. "Almost everything is a person. The sets and the costumes are going to be amazing," said TyNia Brandon playing Dorothy. "Everyone has a role and every - one is important to the show." The actors including Dorothy and adding in friends, the Tin Man, the Cow- ardly Lion and the Scarecrow, define an ensemble with easy chemistry where they admit that it doesn't even feel like work. They are all just trying to be great, encouraged by a director who is also more of an educator. "At the end of the day, our director has made us all a little brighter. My cup runneth over from being a part of this show," said Fayetteville native T.J. Fields playing the Lion. This show was also groundbreaking because it helped cel - ebrate black actors in a time where there were not many black roles and gave them a platform to showcase special music styles, dance and even life. "There are so many cultural things involved that the entire audience may not grasp firsthand, but will love to experience," said Deon Releford Lee, who plays the Tinman. "The set will have African Kente cloth and there is African dance incorporated. This musical is also a celebration of culture." As far as experiencing firsthand, the audience will also be encouraged to participate as the actors will use the entire theatre, not just the stage. "This show is interactive. We will be in the aisles and we will encourage the audience to clap, dance and shout," said Baldwin-Bradby, "This show will leave you recharged and energized when the curtain closes." The musical comes to life on Jan. 21 and runs through Feb. 14 with 2 p.m. matinees and 7:30 evening performances. Also available are limited seating "Lunch with Dorothy" tickets, where an hour before weekend matinee perfor - mances, those interested are encouraged to dress as their favorite character, have lunch in the Emerald City and meet The Wiz actors. Lunch tickets are $10. All performance tickets are $15-28 and are available at www.cfrt. org or by calling the box office at 910.323.4233. Ease on down! The Wiz Comes to CFRT by JAMI MCLAUGHLIN EVENTS In the midst of the Civil War, a young slave named Dan lives on a Southern plantation and loves to play his drum. When a company of Union soldiers announce that the slaves have been set free, Dan has no family, no home and no place to go. He follows the soldiers, who befriend him. When Confederate soldiers attack, Dan discovers that he may be able to save his friends using his drum. This is the tale told in Li'l Dan, the Drummer Boy: A Civil War Story by renowned artist Romare Bearden. The book, the only one written and illustrated by Bearden, is part of the Romare Bearden: Beat of a Different Drum exhibit presented by the Arts Council and opening Jan. 22 during 4th Friday from 7 – 9 p.m. "The book is a work of fiction," said Mary Kinney, marketing director of the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. "It's a wonderful story of heroism and bravery of this little boy … finding friendship in unexpected places." The free Black History Month exhibition of artwork and arti - facts will run until March 5 and includes lectures, performances and workshops. The Arts Council worked with Charlotte's Jerald Melberg Gallery, the Romare Bearden Foundation in New York City and the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex to arrange the exhibit. It incorporates historical pieces on loan from the Museum of Cape Fear including an authentic Civil War drum, a bayonet and a painting of the Fayetteville Arsenal before it was destroyed in 1865. Kinney said reproductions of a Union soldier's uni - form and a southern woman's outfit will be available for visitors to touch. The highlight of the exhibit is a series of colorful images from Bearden's book, on loan from the Jerald Melberg Gallery. Kinney said the images and themes will engage visitors of all ages. "We're excited to present this story and works of Romare Bearden," Kinney said. "There's a sense of wonder to some of these pieces. This exhibit is very colorful with vi - brant pieces. Some a little more abstract and collage focused. In this story told through watercolor, you get the sense that you know this little boy." Bearden was born in Charlotte in 1911, and lived much of his adult life in New York, where he died in 1988. Considered a prolific artist, his work was exhibited during his lifetime throughout the U. S. and Europe. Recognized as one of the most creative and original visual artists of the 20th century, Bearden experimented with different mediums and styles, but is best known for his richly textured collages. Bearden's di- verse interests were evident with his sets and costumes designed for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. "He did have a full career outside of artwork," Kinney said. "He had a full-time day job as a social worker. Art was evening and weekend work. He was the type of artist that was open to exploring art. His different mediums make the show more accessible to more people." Kinney said the Arts Council expects a wide and varied interest in the exhibit from artists, students, historians and novice art enthusiasts. "It is an opportunity to have access to artwork from outside our community, works that are normally not available unless viewed in high-end galleries," Kinney said. "When they come, they will get a sense that they've seen something they wouldn't normally have a chance to see, and learn something about African-American art." Group tours with educators and other organizations are available with docents who are educated on the time frame, art techniques and historical significance of the works. The opening during 4th Friday will feature a meet-and-greet with Diedra Harris-Kelly, co-director of the Romare Bearden Foundation in New York and a relative of Bearden, as well as performances by Fayetteville State University's Percussion Ensemble at 7:15 and 8 p.m. in the Arts Council's Grand Hall. Harris-Kelly will also participate in a discussion on collecting African-American art at 11 a.m. on Jan. 23. Kinney encourages visitors to also visit a related exhibition at the Transportation & Local History Museum. Cumberland County Goes to War commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and Cumberland County's war experience. The Arts Council galleries are located at 301 Hay Street. Admission is free. Gallery hours are Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to noon; and Saturday noon to 4 p.m. To schedule a tour from Jan. 25 until March 4, contact the Arts Council at 910.323.1776. To learn more about Romare Bearden's life and work visit http://www.beardenfoun - dation.org/ Arts Council Brings Bearden Works to Fayetteville by APRIL OLSEN APRIL OLSEN, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910.484.6200. JAMI MCLAUGHLIN. Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upand- comingweekly.com. 910.484.6200.