Jason Timbuktu Diakité
Harlem Stage Announces 2018 Fall Season. Presenting Visionary Artists of Color
WaterWorks: An Evening of Conversation and Music with Jason Timbuktu Diakité
Conversation and Cocktails followed by a Musical Performance
November 15, 2018 — New York, NY — Harlem Stage, the legendary uptown venue that for over 35 years has promoted the creative legacy of Harlem and artists of color from around the corner and across the globe, is proud to present its Fall 2018 season of performances. The season is curated by Monique Martin, recently appointed Director of Programming for Harlem Stage and features artists who #Disrupt and take creative risk.
On the evening of November 15, 2018 join Harlem Stage in reflecting on the visionary artists and works presented at Harlem Stage through its signature commissioning program, WaterWorks. The Harlem Stage team will highlight the significance of the program (past, present and future) while creating space for dialogue, community and transformational ideas.
Attend an intimate cocktail party examining the journey of transnational MC, musician, author, and new WaterWorks artist, Jason Timbuktu Diakité as he brings to life a new theater project inspired by his debut book “A Drop of Midnight.” He will be in conversation with scholar and author Monica Miller followed by a riveting performance.
Born of American parents with roots in Harlem by way of South Carolina and Pennsylvania, this first generation Swedish artist unpacks racism, bigotry, artistry, family and belonging through an unflinching narrative that dares to ask the questions: Where do I belong? Who are my people? Does my skin define me? Music, text and visuals weave a compelling story that journeys across continents and musical genres. Jason will be accompanied by a live band: The Rakiem Walker Project.
“For me to be able to perform A Drop of Midnight in Harlem is a kind of homecoming. Telling the story of my family, here, in their hometown will be the conclusion not only of four years of work but of a lifetime of looking for my sense of belonging, here, in Harlem,” said Jason Timbuktu Diakité.
WaterWorks serves as the umbrella for all Harlem Stage commissioned and produced work, which is then premiered at our venue, the Harlem Stage Gatehouse. It is designed to provide visionary artists with critical support to create new, innovative and socially significant work and engage our community through residency, humanities and educational activities over a 1-3 year period. Through WaterWorks, we serve as a creative home to artists and affirm our role as a catalyst, conduit and incubator of ideas, we also assert our position as a presenter and producer of significant work that is relevant locally, nationally and internationally.
Artists commissioned through our WaterWorks Program, include Bill T. Jones, Tania Leon, Roger Guenveur Smith, Sekou Sundiata, Deirdre Murray, Carl Hancock Rux, Vijay Iyer, Mike Ladd, Kyle Abraham, Robert Glasper, Stew, Meshell Ndegeocello, Tamar-kali, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah and Imani Uzuri.
EVENT DETAILS
Thursday, November 15, 2018
7:30pm
HARLEM STAGE GATEHOUSE
150 Convent Avenue (at West 135th Street)
WaterWorks Conversation and Cocktail Party with Jason ‘Timbuktu’ Diakité
Tickets: $50
“During a time in America and the world in which many of us feel impotent against the oppressive forces of the state, art enables us to respond, to speak truth to power, to resist and to attempt to transform. The time is now and the doors to the Harlem Stage Gatehouse are open” said Patricia Cruz, Executive Director of Harlem Stage.
Monique Martin, Director of Programming, said “This season, Harlem Stage will continue to be a ‘Sanctuary Space’ for dialogue, bridge building and transcendent theater, music and dance. Artists from down the block, around the way and across the globe will present bespoke programs to ignite our imaginations, pose disrupting questions and ground us in our collective commitment to a world that honors everyone. We look forward to holding space with you and honoring our collective humanity.”
TICKETING INFORMATION
Box Office Location: Harlem Stage Gatehouse (150 Convent Avenue at West 135th Street, Manhattan).
Box Office Hours: Regular box office hours are 10AM–3PM Monday through Friday, except on performance days when the box office remains open until one hour after the start of the performance.
By Phone: 212.281.9240 ext. 19
Online: www.HarlemStage.org
