Presented by the Artists Collective and The Mark Twain House & Museum, for the 2015 Jackie McLean Memorial Celebration
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. In June 1921, an alleged incident involving a white female elevator operator and a black "shoe shine boy" 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.
The Jackie McLean Memorial Celebration production of BLACK WALL STREET, in collaboration with The Mark Twain House & Museum, is made possible with the generous support of The Edward C. & Ann T. Roberts Foundation, the Hartford Dental Group, Northend Agents, and The Urban League of Greater Hartford.
Tickets for Black Wall Street are: $25 for advanced purchase general admission; $20 advance purchase for Artists Collective and Mark Twain House & Museum members, students, seniors and GHAC Let's Go Members; and $30 at the door for all.
Tickets are available via The Mark Twain House & Museum by calling (860) 280-3130 or by clicking here or by calling the Artists Collective at (860) 527-3205. Special Group rate tickets available--call the Artists Collective for information.
The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl with author Issa Rae
Sunday, May 17, 7:30 p.m.
Issa Rae is a writer, producer and actress. She is the creator of the YouTube workplace-comedy series Awkward Black Girl as well as the New York Times best-selling book of the same name. She has been featured on such shows as The Nightly Show, and is also the writer of numerous online series and an upcoming HBO series. Rae's book is a collection of humorous essays on what it's like to be unabashedly awkward in a world that regards introverts as hapless misfits, and black as cool. The conversation will be moderated by William Cobb, Associate Professor of History and Director of the Institute for African American Studies at the University of Connecticut.
Tickets are $10 for the general public, and $5 for Mark Twain House members and students with an ID. Please call (860) 280-3130 or click here.
BOOK/MARK: Party Like a President with author Brian Abrams
Wednesday, May 20, 7:30 p.m.
There's the office: President of the United States. And then there's the man in the office--prone to temptation and looking to unwind after a long day running the country. Celebrating the decidedly less distinguished side of the nation's leaders, humor writer Brian Abrams offers a compelling, hilarious, and true American history on the rocks--a Washington-to-Obama, vice-by-vice chronicle of how the presidents like to party. This book has the smart, funny feel of Mad magazine meets The Colbert Report. Plus, it includes recipes for 44 cocktails inspired by each chapter's partier-in-chief.
To celebrate this event, there will be liquor and spirit tastings. Also there will be a rousing game of Presidential Trivia, and Real or Fake Laws! Plus, a few subject-specific episodes of Drunk History will be shown!
This is a free BOOK/MARK event and will be followed by a book sale and signing. Reservations are highly recommended. Please call (860) 280-3130 or click here.
BOOK/MARK: The SOUND OF MUSIC Story with author Thomas Santopietro
Thursday, May 21, 7:00 p.m.
Tom Santopietro has written the ultimate Sound of Music fan book with all the inside dope from behind-the-scenes stories of the filming in Austria and Hollywood to new interviews with Johannes von Trapp and others. Santopietro looks back at the real life story of Maria von Trapp, goes on to chronicle the sensational success of the Broadway musical, and recounts the story of the near cancellation of the movie when the film Cleopatra bankrupted 20th Century Fox. We all know that Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer played Maria and Captain Von Trapp, but who else had been considered?
This is a free BOOK/MARK event and will be followed by a book sale and signing. Reservations are highly recommended. Please call (860) 280-3130 or click here.
Opening Reception for Han Dynasty Stone Rubbing Exhibition
Thursday, May 21, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
In collaboration with Shandong Department of Culture and Shandong Museum in China, The Mark Twain House & Museum is bringing a unique and never-before-seen collection of Han Dynasty stone rubbings to Connecticut. The exhibition will be displayed at The Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford between May 21 and August 31, 2015. The collection has great historic, cultural and academic value. The complete exhibition consists of a large number of individual rubbings of various sizes, ranging from smaller pieces up to larger ones covering entire walls, all filled with vivid detail.
The opening reception on May 21 is free and open to the public. Reservations are recommended. Please call (860) 280-3130 or click here.
The Mark Twain House & Museum and Grymm Studios presents Springtime Steampunk Social: An Afternoon of Tea, Steam, Songs and Sweets
Saturday, May 30, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction, and sometimes fantasy, that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. It's also a whole lot of fun! Steampunk Social features Nikki Woolfolk, author & owner of LeBeau Chocolates, the musical styling of Venus Lens Cap, tea and afternoon refreshments, plus a showing of the award winning short film 1873: the Insidious Intrigue by Chronophotograph Studios.
Tickets are $15/$10 MTH&M members. Please call (860) 280-3130 or click here.