Potent EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) theater-piece, Rhapsody in Black, a one-man show written and performed by LeLand Gantt, is now available as a virtual performance. Commissioned by 13 American performing arts centers, a 60-minute school-time version has been made, too.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Edward Schoelwer, Red Shell Mgmt
Tel + (646) 495-1564 / eschoelwer@redshellmgmt.org
Attachments:
Photos of LeLand Gantt (courtesy of artist)
Graphic for Rhapsody in Black
EPK for Rhapsody in Black
13 AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS INSTITUTIONS COME TOGETHER TO COMMISSION RHAPSODY IN BLACK VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE
Poignant One-Man Show Addresses Racial Issues
The highly anticipated virtual version of Rhapsody in Black, an impactful touring one-man show about racism, the myriad inequities faced by Blacks in our society, and challenges of straddling the color line, written and performed by New York City-based actor LeLand Gantt, is now available for streaming in North America and world-wide. Harrowing, incredible, often hilarious, and always authentic, Rhapsody is a stellar EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) consciousness-raising theater-piece. The work, which made its debut in 2015, seemed tailor-made to address the racial distress that plagues North America but due to COVID-19 in-person performances are not an option. In response to the need 13 performing arts institutions of varying sizes from around the USA commissioned a filmed version (in various modes for various uses) that will be available until the end of the 2020 – 2021 season. As a virtual production its artistry and its message will be experienced by tens of thousands more people than would have been possible during its conventional presentation.
The commissioners of the virtual Rhapsody in Black are listed in alphabetical order:
AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas, TX
Bardavon Opera House, Poughkeepsie, NY
Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Capitol Center for the Arts, Concord, NH
Clemens Center, Elmira, NY
Cincinnati Arts Association, Cincinnati, OH
Goodwill Theatre, Johnson City, NY
Lied Center for the Performing Arts, Lincoln, NE
Lied Center of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Mahaiwe Performing ArtsCenter, Great Barrington, MA
Ordway Center, St. Paul, MN
Playhouse Square, Cleveland, OH
Stockbridge Theatre, Derry, NH
Additional support for the project came from Ulster Savings Bank Foundation.
The original 90-minute version of Rhapsody in Black was developed under the auspices of New York City’s Actor’s Studio, with Estelle Parsons as the directorial consultant, and subsequently became a project of Bardavon Opera House. Chris Silva, executive director of the Bardavon Opera House, said, “After we witnessed the show at the Actors Studio we saw how relevant it was and knew immediately we wanted to take it on.” Rhapsody won an Audience Favorite award when Mr. Gantt performed the piece at the 2015 IPAY (International Performing Arts for Youth) conference. The outcome from that experience led LeLand Gantt to develop a 60-minute educational version, suitable for school audiences 13 to 18 years. Since that time the 60-minute version and the 90-minute version of Rhapsody in Black have been performed, along with a Q & A, on tour in theaters in the USA, Canada, and Sweden.
The virtual performance of Rhapsody in Black came about at the request of several performing arts institutions that had previously presented Mr. Gantt’s show on their stages. The outcome has been the filming of the 90-miniute version and the 60-minute educational version; additionally, the educational performance has been edited for asynchronous learning. The virtual Rhapsody was produced by Bardavon Opera House, Chris Silva, executive director and Stephen LaMarca, managing director, with Edward Schoelwer, Red Shell Mgmt as associate producer. It was filmed in mid-September at Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie in observance of health regulations. Says LeLand Gantt about the experience, “Although I have acted in a number of films, I have never actually “made” a film, so translating Rhapsody from stage to screen presented a considerable learning curve. Theatrical and pointed becomes cheesy and “PSA.” Or not. All because of a camera angle. Fascinating stuff!”
The virtual version made its debut on Friday, October 30 at the Stockbridge Theatre, Derry, NH and included a live streamed Q & A with LeLand Gantt and Matt Cahoon, the artistic director of the Stockbridge Theatre. Mr. Cahoon, who was one of the early advocates for the making of the virtual version said, “The value of commissioning the virtual version of Rhapsody in Black is twofold: It allows us to generate conversations within our community and our school about pertinent issues. We are a very homogenous state and a very homogenous school, so we strive to bring diverse voices to our stage. The second reason is that Stockbridge Theatre / PinkertonAcademy believes in doing what we can to make opportunities for artists to interact with our students. And, during this unusual time, it was especially important to support projects that gave performing artists some income.”
The virtual performance of Rhapsody in Black by LeLand Gantt can be licensed by contacting Edward Schoelwer, Red Shell Mgmt at eschoelwer@redshellmgmt.org or by calling (646) 495-1564.
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