Melvin Van Peebles
& Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber
in residence at BRICstudio
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (the Hood Opera)
Wednesday, February 3
Thursday, February 4
Friday, February 5
L: Melvin Van Peebles (Photo © 1994 Kei Uesugi)
R: Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber (Photo © Libby McLinn)
8:00 PM Work-In-Progress Viewing
9:45 PM Discussion w/ Melvin Van Peebles
10:00 PM Book Signing & Merchandise Sales
Doors Open @ 7:45 PM
Join us for an unforgettable evening with legendary artist and director Melvin Van Peebles as he directs Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber and a large cast of actors and singers in a musical stage adaptation of his groundbreaking 1971 film, Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. Experience a work-in-progress preview of the piece, ahead of its international premiere at the 2010 Sons d’hiver Festival in Paris, followed by a post-performance discussion with the artists.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to witness the intimate process of artistic collaboration and creative fusion that will bring to the stage one of the most influential movies of the African-American cinema!
Melvin Van Peebles financed, wrote, directed, scored, and starred in the original film version of Sweet Sweetback, paving the way for the success of future independent black films to follow. It tells the story of a deprived African-American man on his flight from white authority in satirical, realistic and often humorous detail.
Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber has been described as a "funk-rock-electronic-samba-soul-jazz fusion-whatever ensemble" and counts among its influences Bitches Brew-era Miles Davis, Funkadelic, Bad Brains, Band of Gypsys, Sun Ra and Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi.