Saturday, November 23, 2019 8:00 PM
Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre
Stew & The Negro Problem
Notes of a Native Song
$12-20 student tickets available
“A celebration of [James] Baldwin’s legacy as an inspiration for artists to create their own work that, like his, defies genres and expectations.” (New York Times)
Tony Award-winning playwright and singer Stew, alongside his longtime collaborator Heidi Rodewald, pays homage to the art and activism of James Baldwin in this music and theater experience. A contemporary commentary on Baldwin’s 1955 collection of essays on being Black in America, Notes of a Native Song is an irreverent and spirited rock ‘n’ roll song cycle. Stew and his band, The Negro Problem, use Baldwin’s work to examine our lingering civil rights woes through a rapturous mix of rock, jazz, and soul. His uniquely incisive lyrics pay homage to the writer, who spoke uncomfortable truths about race, love, class division, and politics.
Please note, this program may contain strong language.
Join a post-performance artist Q&A immediately following the Friday, November 22 performance.