NOTE: CHANGE OF DATE

NY Premiere of Spectrum Dance Theater’s

The Minstrel Show Revisited

October 28-30, 2015  (Editors: note date change)

Featuring

Beyond the Stage, Pre-and Post-Show Conversations

New York, NY, September 28, 2015 –NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts will present the N.Y. premiere of The Minstrel Show Revisited, a reworking of the Tony-nominated Donald Byrd’s 1991 Bessie Award-winning theatrical confrontation of America's cultural racism, running October 28 – 30, 2015. The Minstrel Show Revisited questions and critiques the 19^th Century black-faced entertainment genre whose legacy is still felt today and continues to play a significant role in cultural stereotyping. Beyond the Stage, a series of pre-and post-show conversations, will be held each evening.

ADVISORY: There has been a date change in these performances.  The Minstrel Show Revisited will now play on Wednesday, October 28 – Friday, October 30.  (The Wednesday performance has been added.  Saturday, October 31 has been canceled.

The Minstrel Show Revisited addresses current racial issues while shining the light on racist aspects of American history that are difficult to discuss. By using the conventions of the 19th Century Minstrel Show, including the once common tradition of “black face,” Byrd and the Spectrum dancers confront audiences with the past and present manifestations of racism and perpetuation of stereotypes embedded in American culture and tradition.

The Minstrel Show Revisited will play for three performances:  (NOTE DATE CHANGE): October 28 and 29 at 7:30 pm; October 30 at 8 pm. Tickets are $30 – $55 and may be purchased online at www.nyuskirball.org, by phone at 212.998.4941, or in person at the NYU Skirball Center Box Office: Tuesday-Saturday, 12:00–6:00 pm. The NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts is located at 566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square, New York, New York 10012.

BEYOND THE STAGE

A Series of Pre-and Post-Show Conversations

Wednesday, October 28

Pre-Show Lobby Talk and Q & A at 6:30 pm

Matthew Morrison, Assistant Professor and Faculty Fellow at Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, NYU Tisch School of the Arts

 Post-Show Discussion and Q&A in conversation with Donald Byrd.

Thursday, October 29

Pre-Show Lobby Talk and Q & A at 6:30 pm: From Minstrelsy to Miley Cyrus: A Round Trip

Daniel Charnas, Associate Arts Professor at Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music in Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.

 Post-Show Discussion and Q & A

Deborah Jowitt, Master Teacher in Dance at Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, in conversation with Donald Byrd.

Friday, October 30

Pre-Show Lobby Talk and Q & A at 7:00 pm

Post-Show Discussion and Q & A

Kwami Coleman, Assistant Professor and Faculty Fellow in Gallatin School at NYU, in conversation with Donald Byrd.