The world premiere of Tony award-winning playwright and singer-songwriter Stew‘s new work Notes of a Native Song is running now through June 7 at Harlem Stage.
Harlem Theater produced the show and commissioned Stew to compose the show.
Co-composed with his long-time collaborator Heidi Rodewal, who also performs, the show pays homage to the great African-American writer and activist James Baldwin.
Written in 1955 “Notes of a Native Song” is collection of, playwright, poet, and social critic, James Baldwin’s essays. Containing 10 of Baldwin’s essays the book discusses race issues in America and Europe.
Stew said Baldwin’s work is embedded so deeply within his DNA that, until I began writing Notes of a Native Song, he was rather unaware of how intimately, if not thoroughly, it had guided his path: from church youth choir to punk rock clubs, from LA to Amsterdam, from Broadway to Harlem Stage, Baldwin was his GPS. During youth his work answered a lot of big questions but the challenges he posed I’m still wrestling with today.
Notes of a Native Song is a cabaret style show consisting of a live collage of songs, text and videos. The show will highlight Baldwin’s brave and activism for airing uncomfortable truths as celebratory events of literature and beauty throughout his career.
Presented in association with the Schomburg Center the show is part of Harlem Stage’s 2015 season and celebrates the 90th anniversary of Baldwin’s birth.
Performances of Notes of a Native Song will take place Friday at 7p.m.and Saturday and Sunday at 2pm at the Harlem Stage Gatehouse.
Get your tickets HERE before it’s sold out!
