Converse Celebrates Trials and Triumphs of Passionate and Accomplished Black Women
Spartanburg, S.C.— In celebration of Black History Month, the Core Ensemble will present its music theatre work “Ain’t I A Woman!” in Twichell Auditorium Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. on the campus of Converse College.
The show, which is free and open to the public, is an exploration of the trials and triumphs of four passionate and accomplished black women. It tours annually throughout the U.S. during Black History Month and Women’s History Month. The ensemble’s performance at Converse will be their sole appearance in South Carolina this year. On Feb. 29, the ensemble will perform an abbreviated version of the show specifically for junior high and high school students of Spartanburg School District 3.
“Ain’t I A Woman!” celebrates the life and times of renowned novelist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, ex-slave and fiery abolitionist Sojourner Truth, exuberant folk artist Clementine Hunter and fervent civil rights worker Fannie Lou Hamer. All four parts will be portrayed by actress Taylore Mahogany Scott. The musical score is drawn from the heartfelt spirituals and blues of the Deep South, the urban vitality of the Jazz Age, and contemporary concert music by black Americans. Scott will be accompanied on stage by Tahirah Whittington, cello, Hugh Hinton, piano, and Michael Parola, percussion,
The “Ain’t I A Woman!” performance at Converse is made possible with generous support from Lindsay and Billy Webster, The Gibbs Foundation, J. W. Woodward Funeral Home, Inc., JM Smith Corporation and Ford & Harrison LLP.
“I’ve seen the Core Ensemble’s performance of ‘Ain’t I a Woman!’ and can attest to the high energy level it brings to the stage. Miss Scott is an extraordinary performer backed by three very gifted musicians,” said Jason Loscuito, the chaplain at Converse and coordinator of the college’s Black History Month events. “The show’s emphasis on celebrating the lives of black women is also a nice transition for Converse into Women’s History Month.”
A versatile performer, Scott has performed in film and television, including the nationally televised PBS show “African American Lives with Oprah Winfrey.” Her theatre credits include performances with the New York Classical Theatre, the American Globe Theatre, Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival and the Dallas Theatre Center.
The Core Ensemble has toured in Australia, England, Russia, Ukraine, the Caribbean and in every region of the U.S. The ensemble receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Aaron Copland Fund for Music and the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.
Founded in 1889 and located in the heart of Spartanburg, South Carolina – home to six colleges and 13,000 college students – Converse helps women develop the skills necessary to balance a full life. Students develop their unique voices through our challenging liberal arts curriculum, century-old honor tradition, and the Daniels Center for Leadership and Service. Our close-knit residential community cultivates a spirit of sisterhood and enterprise among women diverse in backgrounds and interests. Across the board – from art and design to science, business, music and education – professors actively mentor and challenge students through spirited discussions inside and outside of the classroom.