Press Release

Media Contacts
Faruk Kaiyum (585) 442-9892
or Curtis K. Rivers (585) 271-7010

Sankofa Festival of the Arts Expanding

The annual Sankofa Festival of the Arts adds a Friday Theatre Event as the grand opening to the Festival which takes place at Village Gate, 274 N. Goodman Street. This is the seventh year for the festival at the Gate.

Details

“An Evening of Theatre and Jazz” will be held on Friday, August 22, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the Dazzle Theater, located 112 Webster Avenue, Rochester, New York. The opening event will showcase three Rochester playwright’s works. A reception with the writers and actors will follow the performances. Variance Recording Artist Jimmie Highsmith, Jr. will provide smooth jazz during the event. The playwrights were selected form seven local writers who submitted one act plays to Mood Makers Books Theatre One Project, which gives local playwrights a showcase to present their work. A play reading of the seven plays were performed at MMB, October of 2006 and three plays were selected to be staged. “These plays are a perfect grand opening event to the Saturday Festival which showcases local artists”, states Curtis K. Rivers, producer/director of MMB Theatre One.

The works to be staged on August 22, at Dazzle Theater are: “Give a Little/Give a Lot ” by Laura A. Thomas, “Manly Virtue” by David Anderson- Sankofa, “Black Man Blue” by Robert Djed Snead. Faruk Kaiyum of Kaiyum Gallery and Curtis Rivers of Mood Makers Books are the contacts for the Theatre Event and Sankofa Festival. Theatre play tickets are $10.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door. For ticket purchase, contact Mood Makers Books – 585-271-7010 or Kaiyum Gallery – 585-442-9892.

The Saturday August, 23 Festival is free and open to the public from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. The Sankofa Festival will feature, African Drumming, African/Caribbean Dance, Re-enactments, Inspirational Gospel, Poetry, Blue/Spoken Word, and Jazz. There will also be Food Vendors, Yoga Classes, a Children’s Zone. Other activities include – Health, Wellness and Beauty Square , plus Cultural Information. The highlight will be a tour of the Civil Right Bus and the Community Awards presentations.

“See you there!”