(Washington, DC) - The 7th Annual Blacks in Wax program is set to take place on Friday, March 15 at the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center (SETLC) and at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, March 23. Blacks in Wax includes portrayals of over 50 influential figures from Black History and this year, the Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) Children of the Gospel choir will perform along with the SETLC tennis scholars.
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(Washington, DC) - The 7th Annual Blacks in Wax program is set to take place on Friday, March 15 at the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center (SETLC) and at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, March 23 in celebration of Black History and Women’s History Month (times listed below). Blacks in Wax includes portrayals of over 50 influential figures from Black History, perfected and brought to life through preparation from the SETLC Tennis Scholars, parents and staff. This year, the Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) Children of the Gospel choir will perform along with the SETLC tennis scholars.
What started as an alternative way to educate youth about African American history has become one of the recreation and education facility’s most successful programs. Scholars from the SETLC will portray characters from Rosa Parks to The Supreme's in a unique museum setting as they transform from a wax replica of a character to a live portrayal of some of the most notable African American leaders. This year’s production will portray and incorporate not only the Blacks and women who helped to secure voting rights, but also those present day hero’s and she-ro’s who continue to lead the way.
“Blacks in Wax is a huge undertaking every year,” said Cora Masters Barry, CEO and Founder of the Recreation Wish List Committee. “There is a lot of hard work and dedication that goes into putting on this production. But when I see the transformation of the youth from themselves to an icon historical figure, I know it's worth every pain staking moment.”
“Blacks in Wax is an amazing artistic program that gives a child the opportunity to sharpen his or her research skills, memorization and possible budding acting skills,” said Patricia Carroll, grandmother of Blacks in Wax performer and SETLC Tennis Scholar Reina Carroll. “My (then) 8 year old granddaughter who is generally shy acted in front of hundreds of people. It was amazing to witness her increase in self-confidence and a desire to learn more about heroes of her African American heritage.”
This year's vignette theme, “Struggle to Serve 1865 to 1965…” illustrates the impact that the 1865 voting amendment and the 1965 voting rights act had on the lives of African Americans, as well as women. Positions such as Mayors, Congressmen, Cabinet Officials and the President of the United States have been the great outcome of this struggle to serve. The right to vote for Blacks, as well as the Women’s Suffrage Movement, were critical components in the lives of Blacks and women. The 15th Amendment gave Blacks the right to vote and the 19th Amendment afforded women the right to vote. Susan B. Anthony, who will be portrayed, was one of the founding members of the suffrage movement, along with phenomenal female elected and selected officials from Barbara Jordan to Valerie Jarrett. These women, and others, have been committed to public service and serving their county.
This year’s vignette “Struggle to Serve 1865 to 1965…” is a rich portrayal of historical and contemporary characters we are familiar with, those we may have forgotten, and those we never knew existed. The renowned Blacks in Wax museum continues to entertain and educate as the SETLC scholars portray characters such as Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglass, Serena Williams, Cab Calloway, Eartha Kitt and many others in a museum-like setting. Witness over 50 youth ages 6 – 17 transform from a posed wax replica of a character to a live portrayal of some of the most notable African Americans in our history.
Blacks in Wax performances at the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center (701 Mississippi Avenue, SE; Washington, DC 20032) for school groups and seniors will take place from 1 pm - 3 pm on Friday, March 15 and evening performances for the general public will take place for 7 pm - 9 pm. The Kennedy Center performances on Saturday, March 23 will take place in the Hall of States from 5 pm - 6 pm and the vignette will take place on the Millennium Stage from 6 pm - 7 pm.
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