CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA (February 12, 2024) — To kick off Women’s History Month, The African American Museum of Iowa (AAMI) has partnered with Kirkwood Community College to present seek first entertainment’s production of Black Women Walking. With two performances only, this theatrical production will be held at Kirkwood’s Ballantyne Auditorium on Saturday, March 2, 7:30PM, and Sunday, March 3, 3PM, both performances will feature a “talk back” moderated cast discussion.
“When the Museum brought this project to our attention, Kirkwood embraced it right away because the subject matter is important for our campus community and community at large, where diversity continues to shape our daily lives,” says Kirkwood history professor and event co-coordinator Jed Peterson.
Working directly with Kevvin Taylor of seek first entertainment, who adapted and directed the production, Museum executive director LaNisha Cassell and Jed Peterson began efforts to help with local casting efforts, securing sponsors, and promoting Black Women Walking. Taylor, a native Iowan, has always wanted to bring the production “home” to Iowa, and is thrilled that it has made its way to Cedar Rapids. Audiences will be delighted the cast includes Iowa talent, including actresses Erica Faye, Jessie Shaw, Dr Candyce Briggs; choreographer and dancer Destani Welch, and stage manager Reese Morgan.
Written by Karen F Williams, Black Women Walking is an award-winning, breathtaking theatrical production that combines monologues, movement, music, and multimedia to bring to life the stories of courageous Black heroines who changed the course of American history. Featuring an all-female cast, it weaves together an ensemble of lived experiences and perspectives that elicit from audiences’ laughter, tears, and praises, as it journeys through the stories of Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Bessie Coleman, Fannie Lou Hamer, Willie Mae Ford Smith, Ida B Wells, and more. The production is packed with emotional power and shows any audience that the strength of women can only fully be realized and acknowledged in the present by looking back, embracing and celebrating the past.
“The African American Museum of Iowa loves to attach itself to unique projects that shine the spotlight on educating all Iowans about our full history. Black Women Walking gives voice to local and national historic Black women voices,” says Cassell. “And, what better a partner than an institution of higher education like Kirkwood Community College?”
Tickets for the performance are $30 for adults, $10 for all non-Kirkwood students, and free to Kirkwood students, and may be purchased online at kirkwoodarts.simpletix.com/. Ballantyne Auditorium is Kirkwood’s 364-seat Performing Arts facility and home to the talented students involved in Music and Theatre. Ballantyne Auditorium is located at 6301 Kirkwood Blvd SW in Cedar Rapids. Use the south campus entrance and follow the signs to Ballantyne Auditorium. An accessible elevator is available to the left of the staircase that leads down to the auditorium. The performance is sponsored by Collins Aerospace, The Gazette, and Dwayne and Karesha Williams. E-mail lcassell@blackiowa.org for information about available sponsorship opportunities.
Kirkwood Community College is proud to have served the needs of students, families, employees, and employers in eastern Iowa for more than a half century. With fourteen locations across seven counties, Kirkwood is the area’s leading provider of accessible, affordable, and exceptional education and training. Kirkwood is committed to strengthening equity and inclusion practices and policies while serving our diverse community of students, staff, and faculty.
The African American Museum of Iowa is a statewide museum dedicated to preserving, exhibiting, and teaching Iowa’s African American history. As Iowa’s leading educational resource on the topic, we educate more than 30,000 people each year through museum tours, traveling exhibits, research services, youth and adult education programs, and community and fundraising events.
