Accent on Creative Music - Michael Green of the Shades of Truth Theater

Join Accent on Creative Music host Maurice D. Robertson Wednesday night May 6, 2015 from 9:00 p.m. to midnight. At 10:00, Maurice will interview director Michael Green of the Shades of Truth Theater for a conversation on the play Black Wall Street which highlights the Artists Collective's annual Jackie McLean Birthday Celebration weekend, May 15-16.

The Artists Collective’s eighth annual Jackie McLean Memorial Celebration will feature the historical theater production of Celeste Bedford Walker’s BLACK WALL STREET, directed by Michael Green, in collaboration with The Mark Twain House & Museum. The performances will be at the Artists Collective Theater, 1200 Albany Ave Hartford. CT on Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 8 p.m. For tickets call (860) 527-3205 or the Mark Twain House (860) 280-3130.

BLACK WALL STREET brings to life a little-known portion of American history during the early 1900s-1920s. In the heartland of America, there was a Black community paradise. In the Greenwood section of Tulsa, Oklahoma, African Americans, Native Americans, and people of Jewish descent developed a networking relationship surpassed by none in modern day history, creating more than 600 businesses. There were 41 grocery stores, 30 restaurants, 6 privately-owned airplanes, 5 hotels, 3 schools, 1 hospital with 15 physicians/surgeons, a bank, a bus system, and 2 movie theaters.

It’s June 1, 1921- with an alleged incident involving a white female elevator operator and a Negro “shoe shine boy” which ignited the simmering resentment and jealousies of neighboring white communities. In the aftermath of the worst race riot in US history, the once thriving business district of Greenwood lay, smoldering and totally destroyed.

Black Wall Street is produced by an award-winning creative team featuring Playwright Celeste Bedford Walker, Producer-Director Michael Green, and Executive Producer Voza Rivers. The production comes to life with a cast of award-winning actors and creative team. BLACK WALL STREET has received critical acclaim from audiences and critics alike for its successful run in New York.

Artists Collective Founding Executive Director Dollie McLean states, “Shades of Truth Theater with Voza Rivers/New Heritage Theater Group are two of America’s important vehicles for African American theater arts and artists. We have been colleagues for many, many years. They continue to produce thought-provoking, cutting-edge productions, featuring the nation’s emerging artists and themes. The little-known history of Greenwood, Tulsa, Oklahoma aka BLACK WALL STREET still resonates today nearly one hundred years later.”

The annual Jackie McLean Memorial Celebration reflects Artists Collective Founder and jazz legend Jackie McLean’s broad interest in music, art, dance, theater, literature, world history, socio-political issues and the human condition.