November 1, 2010

Download image.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB's Alys Stephens Center will present the African Children's Choir and its performance, "Journey of Hope," along with two lectures about Africa as part of the center's World on Stage Festival Nov. 8-14, 2010.

For 23 years the African Children's Choir, based in Kampala, Uganda, has changed the lives of Africa's most vulnerable children, who come to the choir as orphans or from dire living conditions and emerge as performing artists, physicians and business leaders with a commitment to improve the lives of other children. Through their performances, the choir raises funds for schools, housing and more.

The performance will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14 in UAB's Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $57, $47, $37; $15 for children and $20 for students. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org.

Download image.

The choir performance is part of the Alys Stephens Center's World on Stage Festival, six days of performances, demonstrations and discussions - some free - featuring living art, community mandala sand painting and performances by Mystical Arts of Tibet, Poncho Sanchez & His Latin Jazz Orchestra and a show for children and families, "The Bollywood Experience."

Two lectures also will be presented in conjunction with the African Children's Choir performance. The first, "The Plague That Thunders," begins at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 9, in the center, 1200 10th Ave. South. The lecture is free. Michael Saag, M.D., director of UAB's Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), will talk about the center's ongoing work and its extensive efforts at the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia. The cutting-edge research and treatment provided by CFAR affects patients in Alabama, Zambia and throughout the world.

Come to the center before the performance for "Landscapes of Ghana," at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14. Kosi Avotri, M.D., will share historical background of challenging times facing the home countries of the children and families of the African Children's Choir. The Alys Stephens Center's ArtPlay Martin Hames Mentoring Program students will attend the performance as well as a pre-show discussion.

This performance is sponsored by The Birmingham News, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Viva Health, the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, South Arts, Goodrich Foundation and Regions Bank.

About UAB's Alys Stephens Center

The Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, 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.