..woke now -to the changes in directions buffeting country and personal journey.. Fully woke. And working. It is my honor to be in process of collaborating with two esteemed artists -Ms Dana Kristina-Joi Morgan, and Jarrod Lee- in a performance piece I have written for Washington National Opera entitled "In The Smoke Of The Sting", a music journey which threads the words, determination, and courage of three Champion boxers -Joe Louis, Emile Griffith and Muhammad Ali- through music and poetry, and arias from operas written about these men. The intimacy of this salon piece invites us all to experience the nature of discrimination that was a daily fight to these men, who endured the truth that being titled 'Champion' did little to stop the public's disquiet at such prominent 'otherness'. Current dates/locations of presentation that I will update should there occur any changes: 2/14/2017, 10:30 am, Anacostia Library 2/15/2017, 12:00 pm, National Postal Museum 2/18/2017, 2:00 pm, Takoma Park Library 2/22/2017, 10:30 am, Francis Gregory Library 2/24/2017, 6:00 pm, The Sitar Arts Center 2/26/2017, 3:00 pm, Westminster Presbyterian Church 2/28/2017, 7:00 pm, Shaw Library 3/1/2017, 7:00 pm, Petworth Library 3/2/2017, 2:00 pm, Bellevue Library 3/7/2017, 7:00 pm, Woodridge Library 3/9/2017, 7:00 pm, Mount Pleasant Library 3/14/2017, 7:00 pm, The Hill Center ...the energy and focus of Dana and Jarrod speak to how fierce artists work under & through all conditions - and capture attention, with fierce artistry!