Rev. Nolan Williams, Jr. Festival Artistic Director
Octaviu< V. Catto presents
a six-month project celebrating the life and legacy
of 19th century african american civil rights pioneer
octavius v. catto and commemorating the 50th anniversary
of the passage of the
civil rights act www.manncenter.org/philadelphia-freedom-festival
the
Octavius V. Catto
story is one of
intellect, strength, courage, & belief.
Catto was born on February 22, 1839 in Charleston, South Carolina and in 1844, his family moved to Philadelphia. Catto first attended and later became a teacher at the Institute for Colored Youth (ICY), now known as Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. He sat down for equal rights on public transportation, stepped up to bat for equal opportunities in baseball, and eventually gave his life in his fight for civil rights. In addition, this celebration coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a landmark piece of civil rights legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against racial, ethnic, national and religious minorities, and women.
February-April, 2014
Octavius Catto Story: A Philadelphia Freedom Fighter Connecting Arts-n-Schools These workshops/performances will be presented in four participating Philadelphia schools and integrate with the history, literature, and arts curriculum. Each participating school will receive two copies of Tasting Freedom: Octavius Catto and the Battle for Equality in Civil War America, courtesy of Temple University Press.
April 18, 2014 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Freedom of Composition Master Class Curtis Institute of Music Lenfest Hall 16th & locust
Music students from Philadelphia universities will be invited participants in this Master Class/Meet the Artist session facilitated by Uri Caine, composer of the commissioned work, The Passion of Octavius Catto, which will have its World Premiere performance at the Main Stage Finale Concert.
this event is in partnership with curtis institute of music
May 16, 2014 10:00am - 12:00pm
Let Freedom SPEAK: Voices of our Children Catto Youth Freedom Project Church of the Advocate 18th & diamond
400 Philadelphia students are invited to attend an engaging, celebratory program featuring local young spoken word artists and city-wide school choirs.
this event is in partnership with art sanctuaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s celebration of black writing
february 22, 2014 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Let Freedom
Sing open to the public
free event
limited seating available
please pre-register for this event at www.manncenter.org
Invited ministers and their choirs will participate in a church meeting revival offering a praise and worship opportunity for the entire community. The program will consist of Negro Spirituals, sacred music born out of the African Diaspora experience, and special words from three dynamic Philadelphia ministers.
Participating Ministers & Choirs Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church & Choir
Taste of Freedom
Catto Awards Luncheon Union League of Philadelphia Lincoln Hall broad & sansom
In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Mann is pleased to honor local African-American women who have made distinguished contributions to their professions and communities.
P e r fo r m i n g A r t s
Literature
Founder of The Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO) and the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts
Poet, playwright, educator, activist
Joan Myers Brown
Go v e r n m e n t
Hon. Augusta Clark Philadelphia City Council (awarded posthumously)
Community Jubilee Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church 6th & lombard
March 28, 2014 11:30am - 2:00pm
Reverend Dr. James S. Hall Jr. Triumph Baptist Church & Choir
Reverend Dr. Mark K. Tyler Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church & Choir
Sonia Sanchez
Business
Beverly A. Harper
Founder/President of Portfolio Associates, Inc.
Medicine
Dr. Edith Mitchell
Trudy Haynes
Retired CBS Broadcast Pioneer
Professor of Medicine & Medical Oncology at Thomas Jefferson University, distinguished researcher for pancreatic cancer
Education
Senator Roxanne Jones Award
CEO of Discovery Charter School
President, Parkside Association of Philadelphia
Media
Jacquelyn Kelley
Lucinda Hudson
To u r i s m
Wanda Paul
Senior Vice President of Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
luncheon host committee co-chairs lynette m. brown-sow rev. dr. lorina marshall-blake romona riscoe benson
all proceeds from this event will benefit the Mann’s educational programs. luncheon table - $2,500 contact samantha charleston for more information.
R efreshments will be served during a Meet & Greet with the ministers. T ours of the Richard Allen Museum will also be available. this event is in partnership with history making productions
luncheon guest - $200 purchase of one luncheon guest ticket also entitles you to two vip box seat tickets and one vip parking pass to the july 19, 2014 “sing freedom sing!!!” festival finale concert featuring dr. marvin sapp!
Contact Samantha Charleston to reserve your seat scharleston@manncenter.org
215-546-7900 x127
this event is in partnership with history making productions
Performance by Cheyney University Concert Choir
April 30, 2014 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Let Freedom Ring free event
open to the public
limited seating available
please pre-register for this event at www.manncenter.org
Scholarly Panel Discussion Temple University, Mitten Hall broad & polett walk
Live broadcast by 900AM-WURD, this engaging discussion joins a diverse set of voices from Philadelphia’s academic and activist communities to reflect on the life and impact of Octavius V. Catto.
Dan Biddle, Co-Author, Tasting Freedom Keith Bingham, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Archivist Charles L. Blockson, African American Historian Dr. John E. Churchville, Local Civil Rights Leader Mel Dorn, Local Civil Rights Leader Murray Dubin, Co-Author, Tasting Freedom Mahlon Duckett, Negro League Baseball Player Karen Jordan, Local Civil Rights Leader Rev. Nolan Williams, Jr., Festival Artistic Director
mance P e r fo r y n e y h C b y e Co n c e r t s it y iv n U e r C h o ir
this event is in partnership with the charles l. blockson afro-american collection and 900am-wurd
july 28, 2014 11:00 am - 12:15 pm
Freedom Youth Jamboree free event
June 7, 2014 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM open to the public
limited seating available
please pre-register for this event at www.manncenter.org
Youth Freedom Panel Discussion Crescendo Tent at the Mann 52nd & parkside
Invited hip-hop artists and scholars who have experienced and studied racism in Philadelphia will discuss how the power of music is reflected in their words.
this event is in partnership with art sanctuary
limited seating available
please pre-register for this event at www.manncenter.org
Young People’s Concert Series
Freedom RAP Session! free event
open to the public
The Mann’s Main Stage 52nd & parkside
A free children’s concert featuring “Catto at the Bat”, an original “baseball en pointe” piece by The Rock School for Dance Education, and Negro Spirituals and traditional Gospel music performed by the Philadelphia Boys Choir. Four Greenfield Performance Treasures workshops to follow featuring the Philadelphia Boys Choir.
ed F e at u r n c e s a m r fo p e r e r g in g b y e m p ok e n s y o u n g r t is t s . a word
Dr. Marvin Sapp
the Philadelphia Orchestra
Uri Caine
July 19, 2014 8:00PM Philadelphia Freedom Festival Concert Finale with The Philadelphia Orchestra The Mann’s Main Stage 52nd & parkside
World Premiere Performance featuring The Philadelphia Orchestra, a 250-voice local gospel choir, praise dancers, commissioned work by Uri Caine. Guest Artists Dr. Marvin Sapp and Barbara Walker, soprano Festival artistic director Rev. Nolan Williams, Jr.
Program Ludwig von Beethoven:
King Stephen Overture
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Traditional/arr.
André Raphel, conductor Rev. Nolan Williams, Jr., conductor
City Called Heaven/Done Made My Vow/ Don’t Let Nobody Turn You ‘Round
With Special Guests
Dr. Marvin Sapp and Barbara Walker Featuring the Clayton White Singers, Cheyney University Concert Choir, Enon Tabernacle Choir, Robert Ladson Ensemble, Sounds of Joy! Choir, St. Thomas Chancel Choir, and the St. Thomas Gospel Choir.
Jay Fluellen, Chorus master
Rev. Nolan Williams, Jr. Uri Caine:
The Passion of Octavius Catto* INTERMISSION
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor:
Danse Negre (from African Suite)
Traditional and Contemporary Gospel Songs Featuring Dr. Marvin Sapp Julia Howe/arr. Williams: Battle Hymn of the Republic
*World Premiere Commission
Barbara Walker
Tickets
Group sales available!
$50 golden circle
$25 orchestra
$15 lawn
Contact Barbara Daniel Cox 215-546-7900 x113
a pre-concert event on the mann’s peco plaza will feature catto re-enactor robert branch, the 100-voice enon children’s choir, and the “trailblazers to freedom digital interactive media traveling trunk” presented in partnership with the african american museum in philadelphia. The trunk contains replica artifacts—clothing, speeches, paintings, and letters— from the 1970s as well as biographical materials that tell the story of Octavius Catto and abolitionist Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. The Traveling Trunk also contains a touchscreen display featuring video drawn directly from AAMP's core exhibit, Audacious Freedom: African Americans in Philadelphia 1776-1876. tickets will go on sale monday, april 14th @ 10am via manncenter.org, ticketmaster.com, 800-745-3000, aeglive.com, or the mann box office. this event is in partnership with history making productions
Rev. Nolan Williams, Jr. Festival Artistic Director
Sponsors
Ebony Strings
The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage
Enon Children’s Choir
The Presser Foundation The Lomax Family Foundation
Enon Tabernacle Mass Choir Gen. George G. Meade School Gesu School
The Rock School for Dance Education
Reverend Dr. Mark K. Tyler
Triumph Baptist Church Choir
Barbara Walker
University of Pennsylvania University of the Arts
Partners
Hip H’opera
African American Museum in Philadelphia
Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based Initiatives
Participants
Art Sanctuary
Nueva Esperanza Academy Charter School
Charles L. Blockson
Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection Curtis Institute of Music History Making Productions Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church Temple University Press The Philadelphia Orchestra The Union League of Philadelphia
Dan Biddle Keith Bingham Robert Branch
OV Catto Lodge #20, I.B.P.O.E.W.
Ardie Brown
Paul Robeson High School for Human Services
Dr. John E. Churchville
Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale Philadelphia High School for Girls Philly Youth Poetry Movement Richard Allen Mass Choir
Uri Caine
Family of Hon. Augusta Clark Mel Dorn Murray Dubin Mahlon Duckett Reverend Dr. James S. Hall Jr. Beverly A. Harper
900AM-WURD
Robert Ladson Ensemble
Trudy Haynes
Participating Organizations
Sounds of Joy! Choir
Karen Jordan
Alcorn Middle Years Academy Cheyney University Concert Choir Clayton White Singers Discovery Charter School Drexel University
St. Thomas Chancel Choir St. Thomas Gospel Choir Temple University Esther Boyer School of Music The Philadelphia High School for Creative & Performing Arts
Lucinda Hudson Jacquelyn Kelley Chad Dion Lassiter Lisa Thomas-Laury Dr. Edith Mitchell Joan Myers Brown Pyerce Oates Wanda Paul Sonia Sanchez Dr. Marvin Sapp
Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller Rashaun Williams
Festival Staff Rhoda A. Blount Festival Project Director Barbara Daniel Cox Festival Project Coordinator Lisa Willis Manager of Community Partnerships & Orchestral Affairs
C h e c ke thes ! out
Related Events and Organizations OV Catto Memorial Fund The re-emergence of Octavius V. Catto as an extraordinarily important figure in Philadelphia’s 19th-century history, and indeed in the history of the nation’s civil rights movement, motivated the creation of the Octavius. V. Catto Memorial Fund. The principal purpose of the Fund is to erect a permanent memorial in Catto’s honor, befitting the stature of one of Philadelphia’s greatest citizens. This memorial will allow citizens and visitors to Philadelphia to learn about the dynamic efforts of Catto. It will take its place on the southwest apron of City Hall where Catto can be seen alongside other historical figures who have long been celebrated for the integral role they played in the development of Philadelphia’s social, political, and economic landscape. The Catto statue will be the only public work of art in the City of Philadelphia dedicated to a sole African American. www.civilwarphilly.net/cattomemorial
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania presents The Politics of the Pythians Thursday, April 3, 2014 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia
Samantha Charleston Manager of Special Events
The Pythians black baseball team in Philadelphia had its first full season here in 1867, under field captain and shortstop, educator and activist Octavius Catto. The Pythians’ story is about more than just baseball. Their ball games spawned social gatherings, and it was here that players and their supporters discussed segregation and voting rights. This lecture will be presented by Jerrold Casway, Ph.D., the Dean of Social Sciences and Teacher Education at Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland. Cosponsored by HSP and Landmarks. FREE for members, $10 for nonmembers.
Edward R. Kasses Executive Producer
To register, visit www.hsp.org/calendar or call 215-732-6200 ext. 227.
Rachel Haydon Education Associate Michael DelBene Vice President of Development
Foster Cronin Associate Producer & Marketing Manager Mark Gisi Principal/Marketer, Tabula Creative Christine Reimert Vice President, Devine + Partners Brianna Taylor Senior Account Executive, Devine + Partners Matthew Bouloutian Art Direction/Design, Modern Good
Moonstone Arts Center presents
Octavius V. Catto festival in 2014 Moonstone Inc. was founded in 1983 with the mission to promote education across the spectrum; intersecting ethnicity, race, gender, class, age, and sexual orientation; and to encourage dialogue and discourse with the motto “Education Through the Arts from the Cradle to the Grave.” Moonstone presents city wide festivals twice a year that focus on someone's life and work, and how their work relates to today. Past programs have featured Frances E.W. Harper, Martin R. Delany, and Ida B.Wells. In 2014, subjects will include Charlotte Forten and Octavius V. Catto. www.moonstoneartscenter.org
www.manncenter.org/philadelphia-freedom-festival
Rev. Nolan Williams, Jr. Festival Artistic Director
presents
february Âť april Octavius Catto Story: A Philadelphia Freedom Fighter february 22 Let Freedom Sing march 28 Taste of Freedom april 18 Freedom of Composition april 30 Let Freedom Ring may 16 Let Freedom SPEAK: Voices of our children june 7 Freedom RAP Session! july 19 Sing Freedom Sing!!! july 28 Freedom Youth Jamboree
Rhoda A. Blount
Festival Project Director The Philadelphia Freedom Festival has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
Lomax Family Foundation
Design: Modern Good