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The Three Willies, FF Alumns, at The Kitchen, Nov. 7-17, 2001

The Three Willies will be presented from November 7th through 10th and from November 14th through 17th at 8pm at the Kitchen - Art Center in NYC at 512 West 19th Street (Between 10th and 11th Avenues)

The Three Willies is a multimedia Jazz opera, which examines what happens to a family, consisting of 3 generations of black men, when they see themselves replacing Willie Horton in those infamous 1988 Bush Presidential Campaign commercials.

I developed the concept, wrote the story and all of the song lyrics. It includes amazing and beautiful music written by New York based violinist and composer, Leroy Jenkins, a great musical ensemble which is conducted by Alan Johnson. It includes video, and the impeccable direction of Talvin Wilks. The producers are Mary Griffin, Jeanette Vuocolo and Carlotta Schoolman, through their organization, Providence Productions.

There are free public panel discussions taking place in conjunction with the performances at the New School
-
66 West 12th Street from 3-5pm.
November 10th - Racial Profiling: The Black Man as Perpetual Suspect.
November 17th - Outlaw & Saint: Media Manipulation of the Black Man

The Three Willies was originally presented in 1996 in Philadelphia at the Painted Bride Arts Center. This current production is supported by a generous grant from the Animating Democracy Program: A joint venture of Americans for the Arts and The Ford Foundation.

This is the kind of work that is rarely produced. It challenges us in sme fundamental ways and also raises some new ideas and issues that we haven't even begun to publicly think about. If you are in or near NYC during the dates, please come and check it out.

Peace.

Homer Jackson

(for more information visit www.kitchen.org or call at 212-255-5793 ext#11)