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November 21, 2006
Contact: Julie McGarvie
Penumbra Theatre
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November 21, 2006; St. Paul, MN: Penumbra Theatre Company, the nation’s preeminent African American theatre, proudly announces the opening of Black Nativity--A Homecoming, conceived by T. Mychael Rambo and Lou Bellamy, co-directed by Austene Van and Lou Bellamy with musical direction by Sanford Moore on Thursday, November 30, 2006.

This powerful gospel journey includes old favorites such as, “No Room at the Inn,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Silent Night,” “Joy to the World,” and added this year, “Rise Up Shepherd & Follow,” “Children Go Where I Send Thee,” and the “Little Drummer Boy.” The performance features live music by award winning musicians, original dance choreographed by the renowned Uri Sands of TU Dance Company, and a stellar gospel choir ensemble that includes members of Moore by Four and the Grammy-Award winning Sounds of Blackness.

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October 4, 2006
Contact: Julie McGarvie
Penumbra Theatre
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October 4, 2006; St. Paul, MN:  Penumbra Theatre Company, the nation’s preeminent African American theatre, made a series of announcements today at its annual open house.

Penumbra will produce the entire August Wilson 10-play cycle, presenting two plays each season for the next five seasons. The 2007-2008 season will include Gem of the Ocean and The Piano Lesson. Penumbra has produced more of August Wilson’s plays than any other theatre in the world. Founder and artistic director, Lou Bellamy, who is noted for his signature style and expertise with August Wilson plays has been summoned by theatres across the country to direct Wilson’s work. This season he is directing Two Trains Running at the Signature in New York City as well as Jitney at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre which will also play at Arizona Theatre Company in Phoenix and Tucson.

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October 2, 2006
Contact: Julie McGarvie
Penumbra Theatre
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October 2, 2006; St. Paul, MN:  Penumbra Theatre Company, the nation’s preeminent African American theatre, announces the addition of 14 additional performances of Ain’t Misbehavin--The Fats Waller Musical Show due to popular demand and a sold out run.

The extension runs October 25 through November 5, 2006.

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September 18, 2006
Contact: Julie McGarvie
Penumbra Theatre
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September 18, 2006; St. Paul, MN: Penumbra Theatre Company, the nation’s preeminent African American theatre, proudly announces the opening of Ain’t Misbehavin--The Fats Waller Musical Show conceived by Richard Maltby, Jr., directed and choreographed by Patdro Harris with musical direction by Sanford Moore on Thursday, September 28, 2006. 

The Harlem Renaissance was a period of burgeoning creativity, cultural awareness and pride. It was also the Golden Age for venues like The Cotton Club and The Savoy Ballroom; a time when the dives along Lenox Avenue were ablaze from stride piano players banging out the new beat, swing.  One of the most prolific musicians of the time and an originator of swing music was Thomas “Fats” Waller, a formidable composer and pianist with a legendary lust for life. “Ain't Misbehavin'” was one of his most popular recordings, done in 1930 on Broadway. The stage show of Ain't Misbehavin' is a vibrant musical revue and tribute to the black musicians of the early 1900s. Bold, bright and told with the cheeky humor for which Fats Waller was known, Ain't Misbehavin' is sure to bring the house down!

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August 9, 2006
Contact: Christopher James
University of Minnesota Libraries
612-625-9148
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August 7, 2006; Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN: The University of Minnesota Libraries have acquired the institutional archive of Penumbra Theatre Company, which will become part of the Givens Collection of African American Literature. The archive will include the historical documentation of the theatre as well as the personal and artistic papers of Penumbra Founder and Artistic Director Lou Bellamy, who is also on the faculty of the University’s Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. Once the Penumbra archive is catalogued and processed, it will be available for research and study by the general public as well as University students, faculty and staff.

"The acquisition of Penumbra Theatre's archive into the University Libraries' collection is a major boon for researchers from the University community, from the state, and from across the globe,” said Steven Rosenstone, Dean of the University’s College of Liberal Arts. “Now everyone from serious scholars of the African American experience to avocational theatre buffs can experience and learn from this rich trove of primary source material. Something quite extraordinary happens when a library visitor can touch, read and examine original documents with her or his own eyes. This invaluable collection is now in the care of professional archivists here at the University, and scholars locally and worldwide are the beneficiaries."