The Moment 2021

Director’s Note

Hi, Hello, Good evening, and welcome to The Moment 2021, the second annual production of Elon Department of Performing Arts First All-Black Cabaret. My name is Kayla Jordan Jacobs and I have had the honor of serving as this year’s artistic director. The Moment was conceived by Elon Music Theatre alumni, Kamal Lado along with several other members of MT 21 who we all miss very dearly. This one-of-a-kind cabaret was created as a response to what has been referred to as “the dual pandemics”. While we are just now beginning to see a faint light at the end of a very dark tunnel, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still very present in all of our lives. In addition to this, we cannot ignore the systemic and structural racism that this country was practically founded on. While many see the arts as a sweet escape from the many flaws of the world, this is simply not the case. Like all systems, the performing arts are not immune to white supremacy. We must take it upon ourselves to transform the field of performing arts to honor diversity, equity, and inclusion in every way shape, and form. The work we choose to do must be transformational. Tonight, we have decided our contribution to this transformation would be a celebration of black artists from across Elon’s campus. A celebration of Black beauty, Black joy, and the abundance of Black talent that is to be found on this campus. This evening would not be possible without the contributions of dozens of people, who will be recognized during the credits at the end of the evening. I would first like to thank the Elon Department of Performing Arts for their support of this production. Additionally, I would like to thank our faculty advisor Prof. Alexandra Warren as well as Jermaine Studwell and his team who have brought this show to life. Lastly, I would like to thank Prof. David McGraw and his team for all of his help with this project’s promotion. Kamal Lado chose to end last year’s curtain speech with a beautiful quote from James Baldwin that speaks to our celebration this evening. He writes, “There is never a time in the future in which we will work out our salvation. The challenge is in the moment, the time is always now.” Thank you again for joining us. Please enjoy The Moment.

Set List

Bios