Encore Series celebrates Harlem Renaissance with Jasmine Guy in 'Raisin' Cane'

By Kayla J. Kayden
University News Service
October 22, 2014

The Encore Series at Texas State University will welcome the performance of “Raisin’ Cane: A Harlem Renaissance Odyssey,” starring the award-winning actress, singer, dancer and director Jasmine Guy and the acclaimed Avery Sharpe Trio on Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m.

This event will be held at Evans Auditorium. General admission tickets are $17 and student tickets are $7, with all reserved seating. Tickets are available at www.txstatepresents.com.

“Raisin’ Cane” takes place in Harlem, N.Y., during the 1920s and celebrates and honors the legendary voices of the Harlem Renaissance through music, movement and imagery. 

In the African-American community, during the years leading up to the Harlem Renaissance, there were few avenues for actors, poets, musicians, novelists and artists.  In 1918, as World War I concluded and thousands of African-American soldiers returned home, the artistic expression began to take off in popularity. Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Zora Neale Hurston, W.E.B. Du Bois and several others became the voice of the new generation of African-Americans who were looking forward to the future, but still struggling with the past and present.  “Raisin’ Cane” is a window in this point in history. 

“Raisin’ Cane” is written and conceived by Harry Clark and directed by Dan Guerrero, and inspired by the classic 1923 novel, Cane, by Jean Toomer, and works by other artists of the Harlem Renaissance.

Guy has been in television, theatre and film for more than 25 years.  She was the star of the Cosby Show spin-off, A Different World, for which she has won six consecutive NAACP Image Awards.  Her recent television work includes the Vampire Diaries, Melrose Place, NYPD Blue and Dead Like Me. 

Sharpe is an American jazz double-bassist and has performed and toured with many of the top jazz musicians Wynton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie, Cab Calloway, Bobby McFerrin, Pay Metheny and many more.  

The Honors College and the Common Experience at Texas State are partners for this Encore Series event.

For more information please contact Texas State Presents at (512) 245-6500.