Friday, March 5, 2021

Friday Selected Shorts - Celebrate Toni Morrison

Got the brain in gear on Saturday night and bought a ticket to a virtual DMA Arts and Letters Live program.  Selected Shorts: A Celebration of Toni Morrison was a lovely event with some excellent readings and engaging excerpts.

The host Yaa Gyasi has won many awards and her latest book is Transcendent Kingdom.  

From Broadway and television - Anika Noni Rose read an excerpt from Jazz. Lovely read and she has such soulful eyes. 

Another theater and TV award winner - Brandon J. Dirden read from Sula -  quite touching and descriptive 

My favorite  of the evening was a stand alone piece called The Dancing Mind. Joe Morton (he was Rowan- Olivia Pope's Dad on Scandal) has a voice that could just read the phone book to me.  This Emmy award winner, Tony nominated actor is powerful. 

The finale was an except from Sweetness done by Charlayne Woodard - two time Obie winner and more. 

 Toni Morrison (1931-2019) was a Pulitzer Prize winning author (Beloved), and powerful writer through the years. Name any top writing honor and she earned it, including the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1994. Class act, commanding speaker, and activist. Her writing has made us all think through the years, as she strove to bring the black experience to the written page. 

I thank the DMA for this hour long program. It was well executed. Yes, it's more fun live with audience reaction, but virtual is better than nothing and worth the $20 ticket. 

10 comments:

  1. What a wonderful event. I really struggled to get into Beloved when we were studying it at school, which put me off trying to read her novels for a while. My favourite is Paradise.

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    1. I had trouble with Beloved too. But this reading of excerpts was quite enlightening. She was such a major force!

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  2. A good event albeit virtual, pleased you enjoyed it Joanne.
    Have a good weekend.
    Take care.
    Yvonne.

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    1. The virtual events really do work. I would not have driven to Dallas for this - glad virtual opens doors for a decent price.

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  3. A precious wise person. her writings will be remembered.

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    1. Indeed - you would have enjoyed this. I do like the virtual world for programs that I would not have driven to...just cuz.

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  4. Hi Joanne - sounds an interesting Reading - and glad you could attend virtually. Thanks for all the other notes ... all the best - Hilary

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  5. Sounds like a nice and educational way to spend a Saturday night!

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    1. it was educational but in a very entertaining hour

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