The Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts will host a one-night-only benefit with a staged reading of DEEP AZURE, written by the late Chadwick A. Boseman.
Held on Thursday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m., proceeds from the event will directly benefit the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, enriching the Departments of Art, Music, Theatre Arts, the Gallery of Art, and the Office of Choirs and Bands. VIP guests will enjoy a pre-show and post-show reception.
Inspired by the true events of Howard University student Prince Jones, Deep Azure is one of four hip-hop theatre pieces written by, or in conjunction with Boseman.
The cast includes Lauren E. Banks, Adesola Osakalumi, Joshua Boone. Greg Alverez Reid, Isaiah J. Johnson (Hamilton, Color Purple), Amber Iman (Lempicka, Soul Doctor) and Djali Amadou Kouyate (21 Strings Kora).
According to the work, “Mecca University is in an uproar over the police killing of beloved college student Deep, and no one is more determined to solve the mystery of his death than his girlfriend Azure. But as Azure begins putting the pieces together, she may learn that Deep’s death hits closer to home than she ever imagined. Using the heightened language of Hip Hop, Jazz and Blues, Chadwick A. Boseman takes us on a journey where the spiritual and physical realms meet, forcing us to grapple with universal truths of Justice, Love, and Divine Will.”
Directed by artist, playwright, curator, rapper and cultural convener NSangou Njikam along with Creative Consultant and legendary actress Phylicia Rashad, the evening will feature some of the best actors on the scene. Producers: Derrick Boseman, Kevin Boseman, and Simone Ledward Boseman.
Honorary Chairs of event include Don Cheadle, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Common, Reginald Hudlin, and Susan Kelechi Watson.
“In every stage of my filmmaking career, I have been blessed to collaborate with several impressive alumni from Howard University, but none impacted my life and art as much as the great Chadwick Boseman, said Ryan Coogler, Chair of the event.
“The world knew Chadwick as a groundbreaking actor but his initial creative passion was writing. I heard stories from other artists who were present during Chad’s time at the school of Fine Arts, and almost all of them surrounded Deep Azure, his then magnum opus,” he continued. “It has been twenty years since the play has been performed, and I couldn’t be more excited to be a member of the host committee that is helping to bring Chadwick’s work back to the stage in an effort to raise funds for the school that shaped him and so many other incredible artists, that now bears his namesake.”
In 2005, a full production of “Deep Azure” took place at the Congo Square Theatre Company in Chicago, in conjunction with the Hip Hop Theatre Festival. The Production at Howard will make the 20th anniversary of the original production.
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