San
Francisco, December 27, 2011 - Utilizing the Lorraine Hansberry
Theatre's generous fundraising theater night model, Wright Enterprises
and LaHitz Media present "Our Media Matters" Theater Night in honor of
Willie and Mary Ratcliff, publishers of the San Francisco Bay View
newspaper, and featuring musician Tony Saunders and his CD "Romancing
the Bass" and renowned artist Malik Seneferu at 7 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. The Lorraine Hansberry Theatre is located in
the heart of Union Square at its new home, 450 Post St., Second Floor
of the Kensington Park Hotel, San Francisco.
"We
are pleased that the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre is giving not only a
platform for multicultural dialogue and cultural change, but they are
giving back to the community in a financial way by allowing this
fundraiser to begin funding our Youth Media Project," said Mary
Ratcliff, co-publisher and editor of the Bay View newspaper, which was
founded by Mohammed al Kareem in 1976.
"REJOICE!" a world premiere, written by the Bay Area's own Ron Stacker
Thompson, founder of Oakland Ensemble Theater and now professor at the
University of North Carolina, is the current play at the Lorraine
Hansberry Theatre. "REJOICE!" retells the nativity story through
glorious music and song. Nolan Shaheed wrote the music and lyrics Margo
Hall is the director, Jacqueline Hairston the musical director and
Traci Tolmaire the choreographer.
Tickets
for "Our Media Matters" Theater Night, the perfect launch for the New
Year's celebrations, are $45 for general admission if purchased before
Dec. 27 and $50 after the early-bird special. A no-host bar will be
provided 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. prior to the performance. Also in advance of
"REJOICE!" there will be a short ceremony honoring the Ratcliffs.
VIP
tickets are $65 with an early bird special of $55, if purchased prior
to Dec. 27. VIP tickets include an after-party with the cast of
"REJOICE!" hors d' oeuvres, and special guest Tony Saunders, who has
written music for television and films and will be sharing from his
latest CD, "Romancing the Base." Visual art by artist Malik Seneferu and
others will be on display. A percentage of the artists' sales will be
donated to the Youth Media Project.
"The
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre is creating an atmosphere of unity as it
reaches out to individuals, businesses and nonprofits that can utilize
an entertaining play to raise capital," said Jacquie Taliaferro,
filmmaker and director of LaHitz Media. "We hope everyone comes out for
a wonderful time and in support of Willie and Mary, who have
sacrificially given to the community via the San Francisco Bay View
newspaper," added Taliaferro.
Renowned artist Malik Seneferu, who still lives in Bayview Hunters Point, shows his
tribute to Stevie Wonder.
"I'm excited to be a part of an event that honors Willie and Mary
Ratcliff, who I have admired for their devotion to telling the truth
even when its uncomfortable," said Jackie Wright, owner of Wright
Enterprises and co-presenter of "Our Media Matters" Theater Night at
"REJOICE!" "Their work is important to our democratic way of life and
developing the Youth Media Project is a way to carry on their legacy for
years to come. Young people will get hands-on experience and be
trained by people with ethics to hopefully swing the pendulum away from
media trends like those of the Rupert Murdochs of the world," added
Wright.
The Lorraine
Hansberry Theatre is an independent Black-owned arts company that has
overcome many challenges over the years, including the deaths of
founders Quentin Easter and Stanley Williams within months of each
other in 2010. "Community, businesses, nonprofits, visitors from around
the world can continue to enjoy the legacy started by Quentin and
Stanley and the thousands of supporters and volunteers that held the
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre together for over 30 years," said Wright.
"Thanks
to Shirley Howard Johnson, Al Dixon and the board of directors, the
theatre functioned in its darkest period last year until they found a
new home in Union Square and hired their new artistic director, Steven
Anthony Jones. Now in its 31st year, the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre is
worthy of our support as it gives a platform for Black voices and Black
talent in a multicultural enterprise that benefits all of San
Francisco and the arts world," added Wright.
Now
in its 31st year, the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre is worthy of our
support as it gives a platform for Black voices and Black talent in a
multicultural enterprise that benefits all of San Francisco and the arts
world.
"The
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre is a multicultural artistic business that
positively impacts the City's tourism," said Shirley Howard Johnson,
general manager. "By allowing individuals, businesses and nonprofits to
benefit from Theater Nights which are available throughout our entire
season, it's our way of promoting community combined with commerce."
In "REJOICE!" the three wise men are portrayed by Terry Stanley,
Luther Michael Spratt and Rudy Guerreroas. "REJOICE!" runs through Dec.
31, 2011.
Just recently New Birth Church of Antioch and Oakland, headed by
Bishop C. Carl Smith, bought out the house to thank their more than 400
volunteers for their year-long service. "New Birth not only enjoyed
'REJOICE!' but they also brought additional commerce via parking,
shopping and dining into the City. We thank New Birth for thinking of
the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre as a place to honor the community as well
as LaHitz and W.E. for seeing the LHT vision," said Howard-Johnson.
To
purchase tickets, call the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre Box Office, (415)
474-8800 with the code "WE." Tax-deductible sponsorships for "Our
Media Matters" Theater Night include promotion and visibility into
January 2012 and are still available. Contact Jackie Wright at (415)
525-0410 for sponsorships that begin at $500. The San Francisco Chapter
of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women is the fiscal agent.
For more information about the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, visit www.lhtsf.org . Group sales and Theater Nights are still available through Dec. 31. 
