The Moment

Thank you for joining us for this production. Our licensing prevents rebroadcast, but we hope to make selections available on this website in the coming weeks.

Director’s Note

Good evening and welcome to The Moment, Elon Department of Performing Arts First All-Black Cabaret. In the last few months, we have been living through what many have been calling “the dual pandemics”. COVID-19 has turned our world upside down as every industry and every person has had to make drastic changes to their way of life. The second pandemic is actually one that has plagued this country since its inception. Systemic and structural racism and it’s even more despicable father, white supremacy. Thousands across the country are finally waking up to what many of us have known for a while, that the promise that “all men are created equal” was a lie that is still perpetuated today. While many see the arts as a safe haven from the flaws of the world, this is misguided. Like all systems, the performing arts are not immune to white supremacy. In fact, as the de facto culture makers of the world, the performing arts is deeply ensnared within the claws of racism. We have to begin doing our part in transforming the field of performing arts. As artists, every time you go into a studio or learn a monologue, we have to question, how is this work transforming, deconstructing, and rebuilding what the arts looks like? The work we do cannot be the continuation of the deeply harmful practices in the arts, our work must be transformational. Tonight, we have begun our contribution to this transformation.  As we work through these dual pandemics, a lot of emotions can flare. Pain, loss, despair, grief, but also in these times of crisis, great beauty and truth can emerge. Tonight, we hope that you’ll bear witness to these truths. Our Black truths, our Black beauty, Black joy, and Black celebration. This evening would not be possible without the contributions of dozens of folks, who you will see in the credits at the end of the evening. Yet there are a few people who I would like to extend the deepest gratitude to. The first being every single Black person in the diaspora. We are dope as hell y’all and despite everything that’s being thrown our way, we still get outta bed and DO IT. Secondly, I would like to thank the Elon Department of Performing Arts and their support of this production, namely department chair Prof. Lauren Kearns and Director of Music Theatre, Prof. Julio Agustin Matos. Additionally, I would like to thank our faculty advisor Dan Gibson as well as Prof. J McMerty and the iMedia majors who literally brought this show to life. There is a 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. 

Acknowledgments

Elon Department of Performing Arts, Prof. Julio Augstin Matos Jr., Prof. Lauren Kearns, Dr. Susanne Shawyer, Prof. David McGraw, Prof. Kim Shively, Prof. Bill Webb, Prof. Natalie Hart, Haidee Dollak, Tyson Hankins, Bryan Baker & School of COM, Dr. Thomas Arcaro, Sujaya Sunkara, Caitlin Strickland

Set List

Bios