Kravis Center Celebrates Black History Month with Outstanding Artists, African American Film Festival, Gospel Gala and
National Geographic Special
West Palm Beach, FL – The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is proud to celebrate Black History Month with a February line-up of exciting and informative programs including Grammy® Award artist Leyla McCalla, the 19th Annual African American Film Festival: Jazz Legends and Cinematic Icons, the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel sensation Darius de Hauss, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE’s archeologist Alicia Odewale and Gospel Gala, featuring Grammy©-winning singer Kierra Sheard Kelly.
The complete line-up of programs includes:
Leyla McCalla
Sunday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m.
RINKER PLAYHOUSE
Bilingual multi-instrumentalist and alumna of Grammy® award-winning African American string band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Leyla McCalla’s music is at once earthy, elegant, soulful and witty. Sonically blending New Orleans influences and Haitian rhythms, with lyrics sung in English, French and Haitian Creole, she brings a fresh sound to the stage for an unforgettable evening of music.
TICKETS START AT $25*
54 Below at the Rinker presents Darius de Haas
Friday and Saturday, February 7 – 8 at 7:30 p.m.
RINKER PLAYHOUSE
Acclaimed pop/jazz vocalist and award-winning actor, Darius de Haas has appeared in Broadway’s RENT, CAROUSEL and as the singing voice of “Shy Baldwin” in the hit Amazon series THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL.
TICKETS START AT $44*
19th Annual African American Film Festival:
Jazz Legends and Cinematic Icons
SIRENS OF THE TROPICS (1927), Directed by Henri Étiévant and Mario Nalpas
Thursday, February 13 at 6:30 p.m.
RINKER PLAYHOUSE
Featuring Live improvised score by trumpeter & percussionist Etienne Charles.
This French silent-era treasure might have been forgotten but for the electric presence of jazz icon and cinematic legend, Josephine Baker. The dancer, actress, singer, author, and activist was among the first African American women to star in a feature film. Evelyn Preer (The Homesteader, 1919 and Within Our Gates, 1920) and Nina Mae McKinney (Hallelujah, 1929) share this risky space of innovation and beauty. In 1927, when Baker played the lead in Siren, she was already an international superstar, having conquered Parisian audiences in 1925 with her unique take on jazz dances such as the Charleston.
TICKETS $25*
19th Annual African American Film Festival:
Jazz Legends and Cinematic Icons
PARIS BLUES (1961), Directed by Martin Ritt
Friday, February 14 at 1 p.m.
Cosmopolitan, sexy and smart, Paris Blues captures the expat experience and the mid-twentieth century jazz scene in the City of Light. Starring Sidney Poitier, Diahann Carroll, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, with interlude by Louis Satchmo Armstrong, and score composed by Duke Ellington. Satchmo himself spoke to Jazz Journal about Paris Blues in March 1961: “The part I play in the picture ain’t big, but it’s important – I see to that! … Sidney Poitier and Paul Newman, they’re supposed to be jazz musicians. Paul plays trombone; he’s really been taking lessons from Billy Byers, who plays the music for the film. Sidney, he’s supposed to be a saxophone man. That French cat Guy Lafitte taught him to hold his horn right. Duke got the band sounding his way and some of the music is real pretty” (Leon Nock, Jazz Journal).
TICKETS $15*
19th Annual African American Film Festival:
Jazz Legends and Cinematic Icons
SOUL (2020), Co-Directed by Kemp Powers and Pete Doctor
Saturday, February 15 at 1 p.m.
In this fantasy-drama animated film, Academy award winner Jamie Foxx voices Joe Gardner, a middle-school music teacher and jazzman. Soul made history in two ways: Joe is Pixar’s first Black lead character and Kemp Powers is likely the first African American to direct an animated feature. Soul is delicate and philosophical yet infused with the improvisational vibrancy of New York City—and Joe’s dedication to his music. Songs by real-life musicians such as Jon Batiste add depth and heart. When Joe says, “Music is all I think about, from the moment I wake up in the morning to the moment I fall asleep at night; I was born to play,” we know he means it.
TICKETS $15*
19th Annual African American Film Festival:
Jazz Legends and Cinematic Icons
MO’ BETTER BLUES (1990), Directed by Spike Lee
Saturday, February 15 at 6:30 p.m.
In his fourth feature film and first collaboration with Denzel Washington. legendary filmmaker Spike Lee studies the work of making jazz music: rehearsals, composing, management, finances, club owners, and audiences. Washington spent several months studying the fundamentals of playing the trumpet with none other than Grammy winner Terence Blanchard, who performed Washington’s solos on the film’s soundtrack and went on to score 13 of Lee’s features. Bleek, as played by Washington, is an intense, charismatic, and flawed character, committed only to the music. Lee looks at the warped treatment of women in the jazz world through the characters of Indigo Downes (Joie Lee) and Clarke Betancourt (Cynda Williams).
TICKETS $15*
19th Annual African American Film Festival:
Jazz Legends and Cinematic Icons
JAZZ ON A SUMMER’S DAY (1959) Directed by Bert Stern
Sunday, February 16 at 1 p.m.
Recorded at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, this acclaimed concert film shows performances by Thelonius Monk, Chuck Berry, Mahalia Jackson and many more. In 1999, the Library of Congress added the film to the United States National Film Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance. The film is stylistically remarkable with images that firmly locate the concert’s setting in a former Gilded Age city along New England’s Atlantic shoreline. Shots of the yachts filling the harbor recall Palm Beach. Further shots of the performers on stage and the audience, who appear bored at some points, enraptured at others, suggest the endurance required for outdoor music festivals. Or perhaps it’s a humorous critique of jazz self-seriousness? However, it is hard to escape the clear black and white racial divide between the performers and the vast majority of the audience, a situation addressed from the musicians’ point of view in Mo’ Better Blues. Summer’s Day, like the series as a whole, offers an opportunity for reflection on difficult personal and social dilemmas amid beauty, friendship, and art.
TICKETS $15*
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE:
ALICIA ODEWALE – BLACK WALL STREET
Wednesday, February 26 at 7:30 p.m.
In the century since the attack on Black Wall Street in the vibrant Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma, stories of resilience have emerged. The Tulsa Race Massacre left a devastating toll on generations of survivors and their descendants and changed the very footprint of the city in one of the worst episodes of racial violence committed against Black people in American history. Archaeologist and Tulsa native Alicia Odewale has revealed powerful stories of resilience through her work. Join her to discover how archaeology can be used as a tool for recovering lost stories, reclaiming hidden narratives, and pursuing restorative justice. Guests attending performances in the Persson Hall will receive one complimentary beverage with every ticket purchased (underage guests will be offered a non-alcoholic selection).
TICKETS START AT $35*
Gospel Gala: KIERRA SHEARD-KELLY
Friday, February 28 at 7 p.m.
DREYFOOS HALL
Just how mesmerizing is Kierra Sheard’s voice? Captivating enough to shut down a noisy audience until you can hear a pin drop. The Grammy©-winning gospel singer and evangelist, who recently performed on BET’s annual Music Matter showcase delivers a powerful urban contemporary sound. Join her for an evening of inspiration gospel music.
TICKETS START AT $25*
For tickets visit kravis.org or call 561.832.7469
Visit kravis.org/brochure to view our 2024-2025 season brochure.
Visit kravis.org/performance-calendar for the most up to date 2024-2025 season lineup.
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About the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts:
The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is one of South Florida’s premier performing arts centers located in Downtown West Palm Beach. Since 1992 the Kravis Center has hosted the very best in live entertainment featuring world-class artists in music, comedy, dance, Broadway and more. Since opening its doors, the Kravis Center has welcomed millions of students to its comprehensive arts education programs. Students of all ages can participate in a variety of workshops, classes and special events, as well as free and reduced-price tickets to those who might not otherwise have the chance to experience live performances. For information, please visit kravis.org
*All programs, artists, cast, ticket prices, availability, dates and times are subject to change without notice. Visit kravis.org for up-to-date information.
Contacts:
Charlotte Vermaak Bridget Gross
561.651.4242 561.651.4331
vermaak@kravis.org gross@kravis.org