Blogging Black Miami

THE CHRISTOPHER BAKER MUSICAL...SOMETHING MIAMI GARDENS SHOULD BE PROUD OF...

By Julia E. Brown

Those of you who missed the Christopher Baker Musical, missed an exhilarating, irresistible, electrifying funny and heart warming story line, with great acting and superb dance drama with more than 75 multi talented and multi cultured youth. The dance routines brought the songs to life.  "What About The Children" cut from Revelation Seed's CD, dance choreography, and performance highlighted the role of Christopher Baker stole the show.

Christopher Baker Musical, played to packed enthusiastic audiences for 3 BIG shows at the Lou Rawls Center for the Performing Arts that was totally fascinated with such multi talented youth, acting, singing and dancing.  Costumes colorful and exquisite, the lighting and prop designs. With a little fine tuning, this show could have played Broadway stage with no head liners easily.

The Christopher Baker Musical was original works inspired from the book Billy Elliot by Melvin Burgess. written, executive produced, directed by Ms. Linda Agyapong, Artistic Director of Community Book & Dance Academy of Miami.  Gardens, FL.

The down side for me personally, was many of the students from DCPS didn't get a chance to witness this theatrical, dance master piece during these perilous times, even with the $6.00 price tag.  I truly wish a Back by Popular Demand performance is soon in the works and we don't wait until an out of town producer recognizes this creative, artistic craftsmanship will be a good fit for their market for a bigger stage and more financial support...we have seen it happen time and time again.

 

THIS SUMMER’S BIGGEST REGGAE EVENT - THE HARDER THEY COME

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is proud to present, for the first time in the United States, the internationally acclaimed hit musical THE HARDER THEY COME, opening August 29 in the John S. and James L. Knight Concert. Direct from London’s West End, THE HARDER THEY COME will offer audiences a peek into the journey of an aspiring reggae star as depicted in the 1972 international breakthrough film that caused a reggae music explosion heard around the world.

 

Hailed by Time Out as “a real thrill…the band is tight, the clothes are right – it’s a sure-fire smash hit,” THE HARDER THEY COME features a cast of 16 Jamaican-born performers and tells the story of young singer Ivanhoe Martin (played by Rolan Bell) as he arrives in Kingston, Jamaica with dreams of becoming a reggae star. A corrupt and drug-fueled music industry drives him into a fast and furious life as Jamaica’s most-wanted outlaw and most-celebrated underground star. Reggae music star and pioneer Jimmy Cliff starred in the ‘70s film of the same title, which catapulted the island’s signature sound into a globally recognized and respected genre, turning Jimmy Cliff and reggae music in general, into an international sensation. “With top-class acting, singing and dancing, [this] superb production faithfully distils not just the movie’s music and characters, but also, somehow its soul” (The Standard).

Possible changes to 2010 elections line-up

The Miami New Times published another great article on Florida politricks and the perceived snub of Hispanics by the Republican Party. The current scenario plus a few anticipated changes do make a lot of sense.

A couple of moves that make sense would be Marco Rubio as Lt. Gov. to Kottcamp although I personally don't know much about Kottcamp; Rubio would be a smart choice with a growing Hispanic voting population. Dan Gelber as AG makes sense to since Kendrick seems to have garnered much of the Democratic momentum in the Senate race. Check it out.

Where is Kanye West when you need him? Barry U doesn’t care about black [and brown] people?

"…Director of student activities Jay Gannon instructed Alberto Fernandez — a well-liked assistant dean of information technology — to remove images of black students from a Barry University calendar. The original photograph showed former presidential candidate and Kansas Sen. Bob Dole at a debate with about 20 Barry students in the audience. In the center foreground were three black females. The edited photo shows images of white men pasted over images of the women."

Wow. The Miami New Times has published a scathing article exposing racial tension and discrimination at our own Barry University in Miami Shores. Most of the lawsuits filed were dismissed or the University prevailed but the sheer number of complaints is worthy of investigation.

Be sure to read the article in its entirety but it is very interesting that although there are minorities at every management level at the University; there has never been a black department head. That's just messy but it is what it is.

This could become a public relations nightmare for Barry University. Stay tuned.

What's the future of Bank United?

As the economy continues to right itself, Florida's largest local bank may be on its last leg. Check out the South Florida Business Journal update on Bank United.

Gov. Crist recognizes local school district administrator

I was pleased to read the news below about one of my colleagues that really deserves this recognition. She is one so committed to physical education and special needs children that it's mind-boggling. She is dedicated and a true champion for children. Congratulations, Jayne!

From the Florida Department of Education:

Governor Charlie Crist Names Miami-Dade Public Schools Physical Education Coordinator “Point of Light”
Governor Crist recognized Dr. Jayne Greenberg of Miami-Dade Public Schools Physical Education Coordinator as a “Point of Light” in honor of Fitness/Nutrition Awareness Month.

For more than five years, Dr. Greenberg has helped South Florida become a community which cultivates a healthy environment for students with disabilities. She worked to raise funds for the purchase of 29 access dinghies and several kayaks to give youth with disabilities the opportunity to participate in boating and outdoor activities. As a result of her efforts, the Anchors Away Program in Miami-Dade County was adopted as a model program by the National Parks and Recreation Association. In addition, as physical education coordinator for Miami-Dade Public Schools, Dr. Greenberg helped more than 1,000 students with disabilities earn their Presidential Active Lifestyle Award.

Dr. Greenberg continuously promotes an active lifestyle among students throughout her community. As a result of her commitment and dedication to promoting healthy and active lifestyles for students in Florida, Dr. Greenberg has also been appointed by Governor Crist as a member of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness.

 

African Diaspora Authors: Edwidge Danticat and Tananarive Due

Thursday, May 21
6:30 pm

Historical Museum of Southern Florida
101 West Flagler Street Downtown Miami

Free and open to the public

Miami is home to Black authors of diverse backgrounds. In this program, renowned novelists Tananarive Due, who grew up in Miami, and Edwidge Danticat, who lives here today, read from their best-selling works and discuss how living in South Florida has influenced their writing.

 

The Children's Trust Family Expo ~ May 30

 

COMMUNITY BOOK & DANCE ACADEMY Presents Christopher Baker Musical

 Linda Agyapong, Artistic Director

"Follow Your Dreams"

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - May 11, 2009 - Community Book & Dance Academy presents Christopher Baker Musical, scheduled at the Lou Rawls Center for the Performing Arts, at 15800 NW 42nd Avenue, Miami, Gardens. FL (Campus of Florida Memorial University), Friday and Saturday, May 15Th, 16Th at 7:30pm and Sunday, May 17Th (Matinee) at 3:00pm.  Ticket prices in advance $20.00 and $25.00 at the box office day of show.

"The Christopher Baker Musical", inspired from the book Billy Elliot by Melvin Burgess. The Christopher Baker Musical is about an eleven year old boy who is fascinated by the grace and magic of ballet - but is hampered by a father who wants him to play football. See the story unfold as Christopher comes face to face with stereotypes and fears that tries to prohibit him from dancing ballet.

Community Book and Dance Academy was developed for the purpose of inspiring the creativity and talents of our youth, and to encourage their academic skills with emphasis on reading.  A MUST SEE!.

 

Ticket prices in advance $20.00 and $25.00 at the box office day of show. For tickets and information, call 305-625-7200. For media information and interviews contact JEBA Media Group, Inc. at 305 - 835-0321 or 954-445-3779.  Email JEBA@jebapresents.com.

 

CBS4: UM Graduations Expected To Cause Traffic Headaches

CORAL GABLES (CBS4) ― After years of studying, pulling all-nighters and preparing for one exam or another, thousands of University of Miami students are about to step out into the real world.

More than 3,200 students will graduate from the University of Miami during commencement ceremonies being held May 14 - 17th at the BankUnited Center, 1245 Dauer Drive, on UM's Coral Gables campus. Traffic delays are expected around the BankUnited Center, U.S. 1, and Ponce de Leon Boulevard between Granada and Red Road. [More]