By Jonathan Smith, Staff Writer
Essence of Ebony, a student-run black culture group, will present this year’s sixth annual Black History Month production.
Two performances will be shown, Feb. 7-8 in Cullen Auditorium, at 7:30 p.m.
“Portraits of Color” will focus on appealing to all the spectators’ senses, according to LaShae Sloan, director of the Office of Student Multicultural Enrichment.
“It’s almost going to be like going into a museum and being able to see culture through the fine arts,” Sloan said. “We’re going to use theater arts with excerpts from plays. We’ll have dance and even visual arts through some sculptures. We’ll also even have culinary arts.”
Students may purchase tickets in the Campus Center beginning next week, or tickets may be purchased at the door. General admission will be $5, students will pay $3 and admission will be $1 for children under 5 years old.
The production generally costs between $1,000 and $1,500, which Essence of Ebony tries to receive from the Students’ Association.
Ticket sales supplement some of the costs of the production but mainly act as a fund-raiser for the organization.
According to Sloan, about 30-40 students have been working on the program since the fall by acting, publicizing and directing.
Jessica Owens, junior theatre ministry major, is helping direct the show for the first time.
“There are so many different people and personalities I’ve gotten to work with,” Owens said. “Somehow, some way, we’re able to get everything done. I’ve really enjoyed seeing the unity of our people.”
Owens said she hopes every student who sees the show learns a lesson from the experience-but not necessarily the same lesson.
“For people not African-American, I hope they get a better understanding of our culture,” Owens said. “For African-Americans, I hope they see things in themselves that they’ve never seen before. I want them to leave saying, ‘Wow! Am I really like that?'”
Sloan said she hopes all students come to the show ready to learn about culture.
“I would really like students to come out and support the show and their fellow students,” Sloan said.
