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(Washington, DC) - The Recreation Wish List Committee (RWLC), in partnership with the Southeast Tennis & Learning Center (SETLC), will host the 8th Annual Blacks in Wax program in honor of Black History and Women's History months on Friday, February 28, at the Eagle Center at McGogney, 3400 Wheeler Rd., SE, and on Sunday, March 9, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St., NW. (The times are listed below.) This year's theme, "Souls of the Movements," features a portrayal of more than 60 diverse, historical and contemporary characters during various movements and struggles throughout American and world history. The Washington Performing Arts Society Children of the Gospel Choir will perform with the SETLC tennis scholars during all the presentations.
Perfected and brought to life by the SETLC's tennis scholars in powerful stage performances in an innovative museum setting, Blacks in Wax features three modern-day students discussing a project for their political science class about various historical movements, such as the Civil Rights, Black Muslims, Black Power, Students, and Women’s Rights movements, as well as other cultural movements that have changed the world, and the people benefitting most by them.
"The history of a movement is a history of a people," said Cora Masters Barry, the RWLC's founder and chief executive officer. "People from all walks of life, and from every race can relate to the history of social and cultural movements--from the grape growers, to the women, to Black Power to Civil Rights to the Anti-Vietnam movements. The 8th Annual Blacks in Wax features the people who put their heart and soul into fighting for the empowerment of people of all ethnicities. Movements take the cooperation and collaboration of all people."
SETLC scholars will portray characters from abolitionist and humanitarian Harriet Tubman to women's rights founder and activist Susan B. Anthony to First Lady Michelle Obama. This year is the most diverse with additional presentations that include Indian nationalist Mahatma Gandhi; anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician and philanthropist Nelson Mandela; union organizer, civil rights and social activist Cesar Chavez; Michigan civil rights activist Viola Liuzzo, the only white female protester to die during the Civil Rights Movement when she was killed following a voting rights march in Alabama in 1965; and white activists Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, killed in Mississippi, while working on the Freedom Summer campaign, attempting to register African Americans to vote in 1964.
What started as an alternative method for educating youth about African-American history, has become one of the recreation and education facility’s most successful programs. Each vignette is a rich portrayal of historical, familiar and contemporary characters, those forgotten, and those many did not know exist. The renowned Blacks in Wax museum is a creative and exciting production that educates and entertains all ages through the arts. Combining drama, music, dance and theater, the SETLC youth brings African-American and world history to life for school groups, family and friends, and theater patrons. The community showcase will be at the Eagle Center because the SETLC is undergoing a major $18-million renovation project, which was announced with a ceremonial groundbreaking during the 15th Annual Heart to Hart Tennis Experience in October 2013. Renovations will be completed in two phases. The first is slated for November 2014, and the second by summer 2015.
Blacks in Wax performances at the Eagle Center at McGogney (3400 Wheeler Rd., SE) for school groups and seniors are from 1 pm - 3 pm on Friday, February 28, and evening performances for the general public are from 7 pm - 9 pm. The Kennedy Center's (2700 F St., NW) performances on Sunday, March 9, will take place in the Hall of States from 5 pm - 6 pm and the vignette will be performed on the Millennium Stage from 6 pm - 7 pm.
ABOUT THE SOUTHEAST TENNIS & LEARNING CENTER (SETLC)
SETLC is a world-class, state-of-the art, $5.1 million tennis facility located in Ward 8. The SETLC serves more than 85 District youth daily by providing tennis instruction, tutoring, life skills, developmental chess, and educational and personal reinforcement to the District’s youth. For more information, contact the Recreation Wish List Committee by telephone at (202) 678-7530 or via email at [email protected].
ABOUT THE DC DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
The mission of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is to enhance the quality of life and wellness of DC residents and visitors by providing equal access to affordable and quality recreational services, by organizing programs, activities and events. DPR currently operates 92 playgrounds, 68 recreation centers, almost 1,000 acres of park land, 40 aquatic features (pools and spray parks), 375 parks, over 200 play courts (basketball and tennis), and more than 100 athletic fields.
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