Feb. 20, UAB’s Alys Stephens Center to Celebrate Black History Month With Kids’ Club Show

UAB’s Alys Stephens Center will present a celebration of Black History Month with the ASC Kids’ Club show “Extraordinary Americans Who Happen to Be. . .” at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13 in the center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $8. UAB faculty and staff can enjoy a 10 percent discount to the show. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org.

  Updated February 15, 2010

ASC Kids' Club. Download image.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB's Alys Stephens Center will present a celebration of Black History Month with the ASC Kids' Club show "Extraordinary Americans Who Happen to Be. . ." at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 in the center, 1200 10th Ave. South. This event has been rescheduled from its original date, Feb. 13. Tickets are $8. UAB faculty and staff can enjoy a 10 percent discount to the show. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org.

This past season Alicia Johnson and Quinton Cockrell directed the ASC Youth Ensemble in a production that brought the audience to their collective feet with a performance of song, dance and original monologues. This remarkable troupe returns to the stage with a brand new enlightening and entertaining celebration of African-American history.  

In this original ASC production, the scene is set when "teacher" announces assignments for Black History Month and students begrudgingly share their frustrations about studying the same people year after year. Through their dialogue the students realize this class work is important. They, along with the audience, learn about the contributions of well-known and a few lesser-known African-Americans, with "appearances" by Ella Fitzgerald, Ben Carson, Sonia Sanchez, Lucy Diggs Slowe, Diahann Carroll, Nelson Mandela and Toni Morrison.

The ASC Youth Ensemble comprises students from Birmingham City and Jefferson County schools. The performers are Jessica Lockett, Ryan Swain, Crystalyn Haynes, Shanarruus Briggins-Pollard, Carla Smith, Derrick Spencer, Tevin Giddens, Rickey Morgan, Ashley Parmer, Ajiona Brown, Samantha Richardson and Victoria Thompson.

The show is sponsored by Jane Stephens Comer, The Birmingham News and Viva Health.

About UAB's Alys Stephens Center

UAB's Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center is one of the Southeast's premier performing arts centers, hosting the best in international, national and local performance. Home to the UAB departments of Theatre and Music and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the ASC also presents its own season, bringing the world's best music, dance, theater, comedy and family entertainment to Alabama.