By Tristan Hill
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) –- Two diverse performances are coming to the stage at Faulkner Performing Arts Center during the winter months.
Josephine: the Play and a jazz concert by the Mingus Dynasty Quartet are scheduled just a week apart.
Josephine is a biographical cabaret-style play detailing the life of Josephine Baker, an international superstar and highly controversial figure in the 1920s. The show outlines her struggle as an African-American woman of the period and her global stardom along with her battle for acceptance in her home country of the U.S.
Emelia Barrick, operations manager for the Faulkner Performing Arts Center believes the cultural impact of Josephine across campus and the community will be significant.
“We are thrilled to bring Josephine to campus. The excitement from the public and campus community has been great to see,” said Barrick. “We are especially excited to present Josephine right before the beginning of Black History Month as she was the first African-American international superstar and one of the most remarkable figures of the 20th century.”
Josephine takes the stage at Faulkner at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 30.
The Mingus Dynasty Quartet jazz ensemble will be offering a performance in honor of its late founder, Arkansas-native John Stubblefield. The performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 6.
Along with the group’s performance, various documents written by Stubblefield during his life will be on display courtesy of the UofA Libraries Special Collections. Director of Public Relations for the Libraries, Kelsey Lippard, said the papers, which were originally made available by the artist’s sister, will make a long-term contribution to the arts on campus.
“Thanks to the generous donation of his papers by John’s sister, Joyce Stubblefield Patillo, his legacy will live on and generations to come will have the opportunity to enjoy his music,” said Lippard.
Stubblefield worked with Sue Mingus, wife of the late jazz legend Charles Mingus, to form the group named after her husband in his honor.
The diversity displayed in these two events has long been a goal of the Faulkner Center, according to Nicole Leachman, managing director for the Center.
“The Faulkner Performing Arts Center is dedicated to highlighting the unique talents of performers from Arkansas, the United States, and globally and to fostering an environment where diversity and inclusion are welcomed and valued,” said Leachman.
For more information about upcoming performances, click here.