2021 Gala
Sunday, September 12, 2021
eta’s 50th Year Anniversary It brings me great pleasure to welcome you to eta’s 50Th Year Anniversary Gala! We are more than grateful for your support and faith in eta Creative Arts Foundation for 50 years. Be very clear that my team and our Board of Directors know that you are the reason we are still here. Because this year marks the beginning of another 50 years and beyond, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and celebrate you this evening for your continued ongoing support. We are delighted that we have maintained our mission to tell our stories in the first voice which we reserve and are responsible for doing so, in the prolific words of Founding Director Abena Joan Brown, whose vision was ahead of its time.
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ince the opening of its doors as a trendsetter eta has opened doors for many actors, stage managers, directors and so many more. It has set an example for Black lead theatre companies to take on the call to own their own property and build. It has trained people in all things that lead to theatre from acting to playwriting to technical direction, to the business of theatre. Many of Black Hollywood elite have graced our theatre with their presence such as Rudy Dee and Ossie Davis, Etta Moten Barnett, Ester Rolle, Oscar Brown Jr., Danny Glover, Denzel Washington, Maya Angelou, Beatrice Winde, Christine Houston, Kasi Lemons, Anthony Anderson, TC Carson, Angela Bassett, CCH Pounder, Yolanda Adans, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, Mel Jackson, Kel Mitchell, and T’Keyah Crystal Keymah and so many. eta has been gifted the support of our elected leaders from Mayor Harold Washington to State Senator /President of the Senate Emil Jones to President Barack Obama and so many more. Let us not forget those foundations and corporations who have been major contributors over the years who have played a major role in our continued existence. Perhaps most important has been the board of directors who committed their support to Abena Joan Brown’s vision. Known throughout the country as one of the most elite assembled leadership of Black America, Abena’s board numbered 27 at one point and boasted the likes of Jim Compton, Velma Brown Wilson, Joan Johnson, Jacoby Dickens, Thom Burrell, Milton Davis Carol, Adams, Juanita Passmore, Useni Perkins, Robert Blackwell, William Brazley, Willa Holden, Nancy McKeever who continued at the helm as Chairman after Abena’s passing. There are so many more who served on the board, or as Gala Committee Chairs and on The Blue Ribbon Committee, not to mention the loyal subscribers, instructors, actors/talent and the eta staff. The list goes on. We have been fortunate indeed to have the crème de crème of leadership and it was not wasted. They executed the restoration of the current building and erected the new add on which is the actual 250-seat theatre. They received additional land directly across the street from the current facility to build our new cultural arts campus. They embraced the value of their commitment to arts and culture in particular, eta the theatre where magic happens. They understood the importance of their contributions while living as well as its inclusion in their wills upon their passing. Eta has been blessed with those who remember and those who see the future upon which the past is its foundation. We are not the eta of 1971 founded 50-years ago, rather we are standing on the shoulders of those who saw this year coming. To all of you we say THANK YOU, Thank you, thank you. We are especially happy that after all that we’ve been through these last 19 months from March 14 through this day that the COVID pandemic has not beat us. We are still standing and ask that you continue to stand with us. Many are as anxious as are we to congregate in our theatre, to sit and view with bated breath the art of drama on our stage and guess what? We can’t wait to have you join us in such a sublime moment as what is to come. Our 49th season was canceled due to the pandemic which shuttered our house, and we presented our 1st virtual season, “Voices of Protest.” We reopened our doors in June with our Summer Arts Camp which ended August 22nd and our Open Mic Mondays which continues. Our fall art classes will begin September scheduled ??. And with great excitement t we are happy to announce that our 51st season will open April 1, 2022 with “Journey to Forever,” by Native Son Oscar Brown Jr., which was the play that open eta’s doors 50 years ago. Our season is planned so check out the roster and get your subscription. Visit us at www.etaCreativeArts.org Thank you and enjoy the evening Sincerely, Kai EL’ Zabar, Executive Director
Board of Trustees Nancy McKeever Useni Eugene Perkins Jim Compton Eta Board of Directors Les Bond, Chairman Attucks Funds Doretta Parker CSU Board Secretary Eric Grant Polaris Advice Board Development Chair Paul Dark Benefits Management Co. Requel Gibson SR. Counsel BMO Financial Seanne Murray Brand Consultant/ Producer Kathy Gwin Principal Architect /Consultant Sharon Bethea NEU Romi Lowe Entrepreneur Jacqueline Samuels NLU. Dean Carl Johnson, MD Magellan Health Inc Lynette Millner Frank L. Bennett Elementary Gene Smith, PHD Chicago City Colleges Sharon Bethea NEU Rosalind Henderson Mustafa Com Relations Commission Tanikia Carpenter Chicago Embassy Church Kai EL’ Zabar CEO/Executive Director
2021 Gala Planning
Because the Covid-19 pandemic posed many obstacles the planning of the 50th Year Anniversary was touch and go. There was no Blue Ribbon Committee The barometer of the social climate was touch and go and so at times we appeared indecisive. But Nancy McKeever, ‘Keeper of the eta Way,” began the initial conversation about this year’s anniversary in late 2018. Meetings were scheduled for 2019 and took and took place, lists were produced and Meetings were scheduled for 2019 and took place, lists were produced and people were assembled. And then of course life happened--to do or not do? And so much more in between. Zoom or in-person? But here we are a ZOOM-Hybrid and happy to have you with us. After so much stop and go, that small committee made-up of eta Board Members Diane Monifa Chandler, Jacqueline Samuel, and past board member Father David Jones and eta Executive Director Kai EL’ Zabar guided by the gentle but persuasive background voice of Board Trustee Nancy Mc Keever, we managed with your help and the grace of The Most High to pull this off in spite of the unsettledness in the world around us. Special thanks to Vega Partners consulting collective who came on board to work alongside us and help develop strategies that would deliver our 50th Year Anniversary Gala. And we have to thank Nancy McKeever and Father David Jones hosting for the Wednesday Conversations with eta to stimulate interest in the gala and beyond. To all those who have contributed as a volunteer to make calls, or work on mailings, etc, thank you. Your efforts are appreciated and valued.
A Look Back As we celebrate the commencement of our 50th year we acknowledge the past and yet like the SANKOFA bird we move forward aware of the path we’ve traveled and the see the future clearly for it. We stand on the shoulders of Founding CEO Abena Joan Brown, Okoro Harold Johnson (who were actors), along with journalist Al Johnson and attorney Archie Weston who established the Ebony Talent Agency/Creative Arts Foundation in 1969. Founded to provide opportunities for the African American talent seeking work and opportunities in theater. For that reason, eta was a licensed talent agency, with franchises from both the American Federation of Television and Radio Arts and the Screen Actors Guild. ETA branched out in 1971 to provide training and performance opportunities for adults, teens and children. Eta knows the struggle of theaters without a permanent space, in fact eta earliest years were spent performing in available auditoriums and theaters around town until 1971. Fortunately, it settled at the Harris YWCA, Metropolitan Chicago where Ms. Brown was on the executive staff as Program Services Director. From 1971 through 1978 eta Creative Arts held classes and workshops at the Harris Y and staged productions such as El Hajj Malik, Up from the Ashes and Second Coming-Last Chance among many others. Abena discovered an old building which she envisioned as eta’s new home so off she went with the help of her advisory board (who became the official Board of Directors in 1984) to get investors. The reality of a challenge grant from the National Endowment of the Arts, and an extensive network of community and volunteer support paid off and by 1988 the renovation of the abandoned storm window factory was completed to include a state-of the-art 200-seat theater, a library, a gallery, a student theatre, classrooms and workshop space and offices. This 16,000 square feet facility continues to house eta at 7558 S. South Chicago Avenue in Chicago. Today eta offers a six-play subscription series and produces dramas and musicals by both local and national playwrights, such as Angela Jackson, Michael Milner and Pall Carter Harrison. ETA also features a readers theatre for new playwrights called Playwrights Forum, a series of original plays for children such as Useni Perkins’ The Black Fairy and Runako Jahi’s Song and Dance. ETA also provides an extensive training program in all things theatre from the creative to the production to the business of theater. Outreach programs such as Open Mic Mondays attract youth from 18-45, our Beat the Hump Wednesday Jazz nights enjoys audineces of all ages. Saturday Classes are held for children 7-17. We recently concluded, our summer arts camp culminating performance ages 6 to 17-year-olds with a standing room only audiences. The children were amazing as were our instructors. We have much to offer as the doors open again to the public and we return to some semblance of normalcy.
Gala Program
September 12, 2021
3:00 – 3:10 pm Welcome 3:10 – 3:20 pm Mistress of Ceremony Debra Crable Welcoming Comments eta CEO Kai EL Zabar and Board Chairman Les Bond 3:20 -3:30 pm Music 3:30 - 4:20 Dinner & Auction 4:25- Processional Led By Master Dancer Malika Brenda Moore Percussionists: Deshon Newman, Michael Williams, John Chapman
5:00 – 5:30 pm Awards Ceremony Honorees: eta Trustees Useni Perkins Jim Compton Nancy McKeever Special Recognition President IL Senate Emil Jones Artistic Recognition Runako Jahi Candace Hunter Honorable mention to Val Gray Ward instrumental in establishing Black Theatre in Chicago Final remarks (Kai, Les, and Debra)
5:30 – 6:00 pm Performance by:
Dee Alexander & Trio
6:00 pm Good Bye
Devorah Crable, Mistress of Ceremony
This groundbreaking award-winning career broadcast journalist has transferred those skills to become a highly effective and sought after community engagement and media specialist with expertise in public relations, marketing and media production. She launched her broadcast career in the nation’s capitol at Radio One’s flagship station on WOL and later won an Associated Press Award as a reporter for WKRC- News Talk Radio. Following an interview with Mr. John H. Johnson, founder of Johnson Publishing Company, Inc, at then WHMM- TV - Howard University, she became the first women to host the nationally syndicated celebrity interview program “Ebony Jet Showcase.” She was part of the first woman duo team on WLS Talk radio and received recognition for coverage of the “Million Man March” on WVON Talk Radio in Chicago. Broadening her communications career, she managed marketing and public relations for Kennedy-King College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) , where enrollments grew by more than 30 percent during her tenure. She generated over half a million dollars in funding for WYCC-TV20, the CCC owned PBS station. Today her love of art and culture particularly theatre has brought her out to share her expertise with eta.
eta’s 50th Season
Journey Through Forever by Oscar Brown Jr
April 1-May 15 2022
Ghost of Summer by Obba Babatunde
June 9 -July 10
Four Queens, No Trump by Ted Lange
August 12- September 18
Shango Diaspora by Angela Jackson
October 14 – November 20
The Trial of One Short-Sighted Black Woman Vs Mamie Louise and Safreeta Mae by Karani Marcia Leslie
December 15 -January 22, 2023
Get your subscription now at www. etaCretiveArts.org
eta 50th Year Anniversary Honorees
FOUNDATION BUILDERS
Jim Compton
Morehouse man, political science major Jim Compton grew up in Chicago and found the world at his fingertips as a college student in Atlanta. There he received the Charles E. Mer rill Fellowship, which enabled him to study at the University of Grenoble in France from 1959–1961. He also participated as a student representative of the United States in the USSoviet Union Cultural Exchange Program from 1959–1960. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science from More- house College in 1961. This exposure to and participation in opportunities that put him in the mix with countries and people from all over the world prepared him to become the savvy businessman and civil rights activist that he is known for. He served as president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League from 1978 until 2006. With a mission to improve the quality of life for life for Black people, yellow, red, brown people and white people clearly he understood the concept with clarity the ideology and advocacy for equality and fairness for all, but traditionally for African Americans. When interviewed by N’DIGO Magapaper’s Derrick Baker, Compton took pride in stating, “We have been the most consistent, dependable, constant entity in bringing about equality education for all children in Chicago.” With his clarity in tack and his business savvy Jim Compton joined the eta. Though he served as a member of several corporate and charitable boards of directors, including ComEd, DePaul University, Ariel Investments, Big Shoulders Fund, Morehouse Research Institute, and the Seaway Bank and Trust Company, he made time to serve on eta Creative Arts Foundation’s board where he is also a life Trustee. As a board member his influence and negotiation skills influenced many organizations, and huge corporations to give to eta in a big, big way. Thank you for your ongoing continued support of eta. It is appreciated.
Useni Eugene Perkins
Useni is the son of a sculptor Marion Perkins, and Eva Perkins and grew up in Chicago. When Perkins was eleven years old, his father took him to see Shakespeare’s Othello, performed by Paul Robeson. This was but one of his father’s efforts to expose him to the arts and one of the major influences on his writing career. 1950 Perkins graduated from Chicago’s Wendell Philips High School before going on to earn his B.S. in group social work (1961) and an M.S. in administration (1964) from George Williams College. Not long after, Useni went to work at the Henry Horner Chicago Boys Club, which launched his lifelong career of social and educational work with youth from low-income urban areas. In 1966, Useni became the Director and then later the Executive Director of the Better Boys Foundation Family Center in Chicago, where he provided leadership for nearly 20 years (1966–1982). It was during his tenure there that he authored many creative and academic written works detailing experiences from his childhood and his observations as a social worker. During this time he was also actively involved with eta, from its beginning through today contributing as a creative/talented writer, providing stories in the first voice. Useni was successful at merging his professional career as a social worker with his creative expression as a writer. His plays primarily focus on presenting positive role models and lessons geared toward urban youth that provided solutions other than death or prison. Throughout his career, Perkins has been recognized as a social worker, an artist, and a community leader. In addition to his father’s influence, other influences that impacted his art were the Black Arts Movement, cultural pro- gram that grew out of the Civil Rights and Black Power move- ments. He then Perkins served as an influencer/ activist in the Organization of Black American Culture (OBAC. Thank you Useni Eugene Perkins for your years of service and ongoing support.
Nancy McKeever Nancy McKeever, Educator, wife and mother Nancy McKeever joined the Auxiliary board of eta Creative Arts Foundation in 1971, when Founding president Abena Joan Brown was seeking investors to renovate the building that now houses eta. That auxiliary board became the actual Board of Directors oficially in 1988. “One of the things that drew me to support eta was Abena Joan Brown, though she had that creative or artist bent she was a savvy business woman with a very clear idea about what her vision was for the theatre. And one of the most important things is that in addition to producing theatre eta provided training and performance opportunities for youth and adults, which it continues to due. That was key because it was a way to continue the culture from generation to generation,”says Nancy. This was in keeping with her views as an educator and the civic minded individual that she is. She served as vice Chair of the board under Milton Davis’ chairmanship. Eventually Nancy McKeever became the partner to the President of eta as chair of eta Creative Arts Foundation Board of directors. As the chairman she lead the charge of fundraising utilizing her creativity and organizational skills to plan events that raised several millions for an endowment before leaving the position in 2014. Today as a Board Trustee she remains an advocate for eta with fondness and commitment to make sure the theatre stays on track of its mission that she, Abena and all those who spent the past 50 years building. Today we commend her for her undying support and commitment to eta’s sustainability and leadership. Thank you, Nancy McKeever for al that. you have contributed and what you continue to provide in leadership to eta.
President of the IL Senate
Emil Jones, Jr Emil Jones served in the Illinois Senate, 10 years as President of the Illinois Senate. Always an independent minded progressive legislator with a solid reputation of advocacy for equity and justice for the disadvantaged across the board, his work reflected his commitment. To the President education, arts and culture were no different, so he demonstrated a strong position for fair and adequate funding for public education, which was one of his priorities. He had a keen insight into the difference that sports, arts, and culture played in the role of the African American youth and made it a necessary focus to maintain its presence as a contribution to the growth and advancement towardsself-determination in Black communities. Over the years Senator Emile Jones was responsible for the State of Illinois allocation of millions of dollars to eta and other African American Cultural arts and educational institutions. Thank you, Senator for your contribution that made a difference in eta’s sustainability these 50 years.
Runako Jahi Runako Jahi served as Artistic Director of eta Creative Arts Foundation for twenty-four years until 2014 when he left to explore other opportunities. Prior to that he had spent 16 years working as talent at eta. His scope of work at the theatre provided him the platform to secure the eta’s mission . . . to tell our story in our first voice, by us, about us, for us and shared with the world. He is a director, playwright, actor, painter, and poet. In an effort to create material specifically designed for youth audiences, Mr. Jahi has developed an impressive body of work that includes: A Place To Be Me; The Positive Evolution Of Bongo Baker; Ama and The Magic Toy Box; Kasimu & The Coconut Palm; The Reading Machine On Sunnyside Lane; What Shall I Tell My Children? (musical biography about the life and career of Dr. Margaret Taylor Goss Burroughs), and Have You Seen My Daddy? In addition to his theater production work, he teaches drama to youth and adults. In May/October of 2005, Mr. Jahi coached Jennifer Hudson for her audition for the highly-acclaimed musical, Dreamgirls. Runako Jahi is the recipient of numerous awards, including: the Paul Robeson Award, the Lorraine Hansberry Award, the Monarch Award, the Black Theater Alliance Award of Merit, N’DIGO Magapaper’s, Tribute To Men Award, the Keeper of Tradition Award,
Candace Hunter
Visual Artist, Cultural Arts Writer, Curator , Water Rights Activist, Candace Hunter (chlee) creates ‘great art’ through collage, paintings, installations and performance art. Her work stories about Black people, for Black people. Through the use of appropriated materials from magazines, vintage maps, cloth, various re-used materials, she offers the new landscape of materials back to the viewer with a glimpse of history and admiration of the beautiful. Her mixed media artworks are sometimes applause and sometimes rants about the effects of politics and history and a smattering of the now. This personal story-telling is important as an act of meditation and mediation. The untold stories of enslaved peoples, of women fighting for potable water, of children who never made it home for dinner and never would again, of men sitting on death row, and of the abducted daughters of Chibok, are just some of the stories that Candace yearns to tell visually. During this season of Civil Unrest and the Coronavirus Pandemic, Candace found a way to bring a bit of joy to her personal world and to her audience with the creation of BROWN LIMBED GIRLS who are currently in Oakland on exhibit at the Thelma Harris Art Gallery. The collages created during the pandemic spoke of joy and whimsy and like. Candace’s work , also speaks of hard truths. Throughout her career Candace has graced the stage of eta, been a season subscriber, and taught students during summer camp. Most recently, she joined eta as an artistic associate. We honor her continued support of eta and telling our stories in the first voice beautifully. Congratulations for never wavering from your comment to honor Black People.
Abena Joan Brown’s vision was unapologetically Afrocentric and she was driven to create organizations that featured and nurtured the Black community. Consequently, in 1969, Abena and Okoro Harold Johnson, who had met while they were students at Roosevelt University advocate opportunities for and book Black actors. Abena and Okoro, along with Al Johnson and Archie Weston Sr. founded Ebony Talent Agency (ETA), as an agency to discover and put performing artists to work . ETA was franchised by both the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Screen Actors Guild and later evolved into the Creative Arts Foundation, offering training and theater performance opportunities.
A TRIBUTE TO
Abena Joan Brown CELEBRATING 50-YEARS
Fifty years ago Abena Joan Brown embarked on a journey that has made a huge difference in the African American community in Chicago and the world. As a child she began studying dance at the age of three years old and performed in church throughout her childhood. After she was discovered skipping school, Abena was sent to a Catholic boarding school by her mother. She began her primary education as a dance major at the University of Illinois. She completed her bachelor’s degree at Roosevelt University. At Roosevelt University she continued her interest in the arts and pursued theatre where she expressed her talent as an actress. Abena resumed her education at the University of Chicago, after challenging the university to open its doors to Black students where she pursued a master’s degree in social work. Abena began her career as a social worker and joined the executive staff as Program Services Director at the Harriett M. Harris YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago. She was actively involved in the creation of such organizations as National Association of Black Social Workers during the Civil Rights Movement.
In 1982, she left her position at the YWCA to focus her energies on the growth and development of ETA. After several years without a permanent home, the group found a permanent location in an abandoned factory in 1978 and began renovations of the space. Over the next decade, with numerous fundraising events, including a National Endowment for the Arts grant, ETA’s new was ready home to emerged as a theatre in the community where magic happens and performances captured audience after audience, won the support of the African American community over. As Abena would say, “We reserve the right to tell our stories in the first voice unapologetically, in fact it’s our responsibility.” The success of eta first property purchase located at 7558 S. South Chicago spearheaded eta’s purchase of additional land in 1995 and again in 1998 to improve both the courses it could offer, as well as showcase works written and performed by Black artists. Abena was clear that it is our responsibility to tell our stories so that our children can dream lives that they can live into. Her efforts to create a children’s theater, summer camps and training to inspire children to become involved in the arts remains a constant at eta. It’s not surprising that Abena spoke at many events advocating for the arts in Chicago and throughout the world. She retired in 2011 after 40 years at eta. Brown passed on July 12, 2015 in Chicago leaving a legacy that we continue to celebrate and though she is no longer with us in the physical realm her contribution lives on through eta Creative Arts Foundation
A NIGHT TO ACKNOWLDEGE THOSE WHO HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE Non-Profits depend on their boards to assist them in their success and one of the most important of ways in which they do so is to help the organization fundraise, which is a major aspect of income generated to keep non-profits in existence.
Alpha Wood Foundation Chicago Community Trust
Tim Rand Champagne donation
Premier Catering & Events
5559 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60638 (773) 306-1910
Joyce Foundation Donnelly Foundation Illinois Arts Council Chicago Theatre Alliance University of Chicago Illinois Humanities IFF
VEGA PARTNERS
Walder Foundation
Suzanne Griffith Founder and Managing Principal VEGA Partners consults with companies and Philanthropies on social impact solutions. We deliver strategies and programs that enhance reputation, build stakeholder support and develop meaningful equitable partnerships
NEA DCASE DECO Tru Blue BOX IT St. Benedict the African Church Our Monthly Sustainable contributors All individual donations from you Our subscribers Our Volunteers A Special Thank You to Vega Partners
159 North Sangamon Chicago, IL 60607 www.vega-partners.com Event Invitation and Program Design
Lydagraphics Visual Design www.lydagraphics.net
eta Creative Arts Foundation
Salutes
All of the Many who have contributed to its success.
1971- 2021 eta CREATIVE ARTS FOUNDATION MISSION STATEMENT eta Creative Arts Foundation, Chicago’s only full cultural arts complex in the African American community celebrates its 50th year anniversary looking forward to 50 more and beyond. Widely known for its legacy of telling the African American’s story in the first voice by Black people, about Black people for Black people unapologetically and shares it with the world has earned its reputation as, “The theatre where Magic happens.” As a major cultural resource cultural resource institution/hub perpetuates the preserves and promulgates the African American aesthetic in the city of Chicago, Illinois and the Nation. With this intention eta provides professional opportunities by way of training and performance for the development of youth and adults as artists, technicians, and producers; sales for visual artists through the gallery and exposure for the general public to authentic, valid projections of the African American experiences, aspirations and visions. eta Creative Arts Foundation, Inc. | 7558 So. South Chicago Avenue | Chicago, IL 60619-2644
www.etacreativearts.org