Do the Harlem Renaissance with Langston Hughes

Before there was the Harlem Shake there was the Harlem Renaissance. It was a time of artistic flourishing for the African American population in the United States during the early 1900s where art, music and literature were utilized to portray the true depth of the culture and separate it from racial stereotypes. Langston Hughes was one of the most influential artists of this time period.

Five interesting things to know about Langston Hughes:

1. A true renaissance man, he wrote novels, plays, short stories, and poetry.
2. Langston Hughes had such dedication to education that even after he had success he continued college. He published his first book of poetry three years before he ever completed his bachelor degree.
3. Happy belated birthday Langston! He was born the same month as Black History Month.
4. He gave a lot of ‘soul’ to music by having his poetry accompany the music of some jazz and blues artists.
5. Langston wrote, “I swear to the Lord, I still can't see, Why Democracy means, Everybody but me.” Because he wrote a lot about racial pride and equality, his work helped shape art and music during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s, influencing the movement.

Langston Hughes’ history is unraveled for all to see in the humorous and witty play The Soul of Langston at the Workhouse Arts Center on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 8pm. Written by Daron P. Stewart and presented by the DC Drama Department as a part of the DC Black Theatre Festival, this piece of theatrical art shows the way life impacted Langston Hughes, his work, and eventually an entire cultural movement.

Come see this musically expressed one-man play.  For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit us HERE.

THIS WEEK AT THE WORKHOUSE

• Urban Decay 4, June1-July 28, McGuireWoods Gallery.
• 360 Degrees of Post-Traumatic Stress, June 22-August 18, Vulcan Gallery.
• Workhouse Summer Camp, June 24-August 2, Campus-wide.
• Workhouse Farmers Market, Thursday 3-7pm, Workhouse Quad.
• Sixth Generation Concert, June 28 at 8pm, Rizer-Pavilion.
• Peter Pan and Captain Hook in the Fairies’ Land, June 29 at 1pm, W-3 Theatre.
• BBQ Brawl, June 29, 3-5pm, Workhouse Quad.
• Mount Vernon Nights, June 29 at 7pm, Workhouse Quad.
• Cabaret Series: Broadway Showdown, June 29 at 8pm & June 30 at 1pm, McGuieWoods Gallery.
• The Soul of Langston, June 29 at 8pm, W-3 Theatre.
• Workhouse Prison Museum in Building W-9.

Stop by and visit us! 

The Workhouse is open Wednesday – Saturday from 11am – 7pm and Sundays from 12 – 5pm.  The Workhouse Prison Museum is open Wednesday – Friday from 12 – 3pm and Saturday – Sunday from 12 – 4pm.  Visit www.WorkhouseArts.org for more information, to purchase tickets or to register for classes.