NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
24 February 2003

AWARD WINNING 5TH ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH YOUTH PERFORMING ARTIST SHOWCASE SET FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 14 AT THE FORUM

Harrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed today announced that the City of Harrisburg’s 5th Annual Black History Month Youth Performing Artist Showcase is set for Friday, March 14, at the Forum Building at Fifth and Walnut Streets in downtown. Two performances will be held, with the 7:30 p.m. evening presentation free and open to the public. A 9:00 a.m. performance, also free, is open only to city school students and senior citizens.

The Mayor said the overwhelming success of last year’s Showcase, which featured the artistic talents of area youth, has warranted the continued youth- oriented format of the show with, in addition to Harrisburg High students, more than 20 different area schools represented. Nearly 600 area youth in grades 5–12 and comprising 150 different acts auditioned for the highly popular special event. This year’s theme for the Showcase is “Youth Living the African American Legacy.”

Reed said the Showcase is a professional, Broadway-type production that features international musical star Cedric Lawson and his Orchestra. In addition to the performances, the participating young artists were also given the opportunity to attend developmental workshops conducted by professional artists, including actor and choreographer Kelly Summerford, vocalists Christyan Seay and Bernie Stevenson, and writer Brenda House-Barrett.

The Mayor said the free Showcase has become a signature production of the City’s extensive schedule of Black History Month activities, and was recently honored by the Pennsylvania Parks and Recreation Society as the best Cultural Enrichment Program held in the state.

Reed said the free tickets for the Showcase will be distributed beginning on Wednesday, March 5, at Noon at the Reservoir Park Mansion, Mr. Mike’s Records, the Music Man, and Giant Foods in the Kline Plaza. Due to limited seating, only four tickets will be given to each requesting attendee, and persons interested in attending the Showcase should contact the city Recreation Bureau at 717.233.7403 to reserve their tickets. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the Showcase, and any seats unfilled by 7:15 p.m. will be given away to others. The Mayor has also authorized the distribution of standing room only tickets, as the Forum Building is normally quickly filled.

The Mayor extended his appreciation to the event’s Production Committee, which this year included Brenda House-Barrett, Charon Battles, Joyce Bolden, Vera Cornish, Calobe Jackson, Cedric Lawson, John Scott, Christyan Seay, Kelly Summerford, Bernie Stevenson and Guy Stevenson, as well as staff within the city Department of Parks and Recreation.

Joining the city in co-sponsoring the Showcase and Harrisburg’s many other Black History Month observances and activities are the Harrisburg Parks Partnership, PHEAA, Hershey Foods, Giant Foods LLC, UPS, J.P. Lilley & Son, Inc., 1400 The Touch, Rejoice Inc., M&T Bank, Harrisburg School District, Downtown Improvement District, Pennsylvania Blue Shield – A Highmark Company, the Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The National Civil War Museum, The Forum, and Strictly Formals.

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