Contact: Kelly Kazemier                                                                    

Director of Communications

631-244-3318

kazemiek@dowling.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 7, 2008

Dowling College Presents an Original Production for African American History Month

Enjoy the Sights and Sounds of Africa in the Epic of Sunjata

OAKDALE, NY – The Loft Theatre at Dowling College is proud to present an original adaptation of the West African Epic of Sunjata; a spectacle of drama, dance and music featuring the authentic griot Abdoulaye "Djoss" Diabate and his band from Mali. Directed and choreographed by Tracy Bersley and adapted by Ms. Bersley and the Loft's Artistic Director Andrew Karp, the Epic of Sunjata is a 13th century oral folktale. This folktale is still sung in Mali and around the world and recounts the miraculous coming of age of a seemingly crippled boy, Sunjata. With the help of his own griot (singer/storyteller), Sunjata has to overcome countless obstacles; from an evil step-mother and step-brother, to a sorcerer king who fashions chairs from human skin, from exile to self-doubt, to rise up, regain his homeland and become ruler of the great empire of Mali. 

The Epic of Sunjata features live music, under the direction of Dowling faculty member and guitarist David Racanelli, world renowned West African singer/griot, Abdoulaye "Djoss" Diabate, one of Africa’s most charismatic singers and accomplished guitarists with a smile that could light up a whole city. With a cast of eight, an incredible set by Loft resident set designer Jeff Van Velsor of McCarter Theater in Princeton, costumes by Loft's resident designer and Dowling faculty member Elissa Iberti, and light design by Jen Schriever, the Epic of Sunjata promises to be a joyous, foot-stomping, heart-wrenching spectacular that will light up the hearts of audiences of all ages. With a professional design team, actors from New York City, and an intimate black box theatre, the Loft presents an Off-Broadway quality production right in your own backyard!

The show runs from Feb. 29-March 16. Show dates are as follows: Fridays, Feb. 29, March 7 & March 14 at 8 pm; Saturdays March 1, 8 & 15 at 8 pm; Sundays March 2, 9 & 16 at 4 pm; and a special early bird performance on Thursday, March 6 at 6:00 pm. Ticket prices are as follows: $15 Donation ($12 for Dowling faculty, staff, alumni; $10 for students, children and seniors.) For reservations, call 244-5037 or visit www.dowling.edu/loft. Tickets can also be purchased in advance from TheaterMania.com.

Photo:http://www.dowling.edu/news/year2008/pictures/sunjata.jpg

About Dowling College

Dowling College is an independent, coeducational college that serves more than 6,500 students at its historic Rudolph Campus on the banks of the Connetquot River in Oakdale, NY, and the 105-acre Brookhaven Campus in eastern Long Island and a business center located near the Nassau-Suffolk border in Melville. Dowling offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in several disciplines through its four schools: Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Education.