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American Griot: Original Play Explores Muslim Influence on the American Blues

  • John and Angeline Oremus Theater 9000 College Parkway Palos Hills, IL, 60465 United States (map)
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AMERICAN GRIOT

BY REGINALD EDMUND AND RONNIE MALLEY
DIRECTED BY DR. CRAIG ROSEN

Moraine Valley Community College Academic Theater’s upcoming 2018-19 season includes the world premiere of “American Griot” by former Moraine Valley student Ronnie Malley, and Reginald Edmund, Feb. 21-March 3 at John and Angeline Oremus Theater as part of the Mosaics: Muslim Voices in America project.

American Griot is an original play exploring the often overlooked history of early African Muslims forced into American slavery and the influence they had on what would become the American music genre known as the blues. Told through the lens of Mamadou, an 18th century griot (African storyteller musician), the audience is taken on a musical journey to the crossroads of Africa and America revealing the shared history of Islam and the blues on both continents.

John and Angeline Oremus Theater @ Moraine Valley Community College

9000 College Pkwy, Palos Hills, IL 60465

$15 General Public
$12 Seniors, Staff
$10 Students (with ID) and Children unless otherwise noted
Thursday-Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 3 p.m.


MOSAICS: MUSLIM VOICES IN AMERICA

The Grant

Moraine Valley Community College Fine and Performing Arts Center has been awarded a grant from the Association of Performing Professionals (APAP) for the Building Bridges: Arts, Culture and Identity program. The grant program supports mission-critical projects that demonstrate the power of the arts to strengthen communities and increase intercultural understanding across America. The Building Bridges: Arts, Culture and Identity APAP grant program is supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) and the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art (DDFIA).

The Project

Mosaics: Muslim Voices in America explores the breadth of American culture through the lens of Muslim artists living and practicing in the United States, with a focus on personal narrative. This project envisions a mosaic of stories to celebrate the diversity of Muslims in America.

MOSAICS: MUSLIM VOICES IN AMERICA

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

AMERICAN GRIOT PRESS:

Moraine Valley Alum Presents Original Play 'American Griot'