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Eastern to Present 'Africa to America,' Back by Popular Demand

by Dwight Bachman

Willimantic, CT (09/10/2019) — The Theatre Program at Eastern Connecticut State University will present three performances of "Africa to America: Perspective, Pride and Power" on Sept. 17-19 in the Proscenium Theatre of the Fine Arts Instructional Center.

On Sept. 17, the show starts at 7:30 p.m.; on Sept. 18, at 3 p.m.; and a special matinee performance on Sept. 19 will take place at 11 a.m. The public is invited. Back by popular demand, the production is directed by Eastern Theatre Professor DeRon Williams and written by Wendy Coleman, chair of theatre arts at Alabama State University.

The Theatre Program presented a single showing of the productin in March 2019 and received rave reviews. The interdisciplinary performance chronicles the involuntary voyage from Africa to the unknown lands of America through the use of oration, music, dance and multimedia.

"This rich and powerful experience depicts the struggles, determination and triumphs as seen through the eyes of many African ancestors and descendants," said Williams. "The audience will also learn of the history, culture, heritage and legacy of African Americans from some of the nation's most notable icons in the freedom struggle: Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Angela Davis, Rosa Parks and former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama."

Tickets are $5 for the public and free for Eastern students on a first-come, first-serve basis. For group or school pricing, or for more information, please contact the Fine Arts Box Office at (860) 465-5123 or email theatreboxoffice@easternct.edu. Walk-ins will be accepted as tickets remain available.

Written by Dwight Bachman

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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving 5,200 students annually at its Willimantic campus and satellite locations. In addition to attracting students from 160 of Connecticut's 169 towns, Eastern also draws students from 29 other states and 20 other countries. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 65 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal art foundation grounded in an array of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 30 public universities in the North Region by U.S. News and World Report in its 2019 Best College ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review nine years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.

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