LCC Presents The Langston Hughes Project

A joyous multimedia concert based on Langston Hughes’ kaleidoscopic jazz poem suite, “Ask Your Mama,” which Hughes scored with musical cues drawn from blues, gospel, Latin rhythms and more. Together, the words, sounds and images recreate a magical moment in our cultural history that bridges the Harlem Renaissance, the Beat writer’s coffeehouse movement and the Black Arts performance explosion of the 1960s that still resonates today.

Presented with scores from blues, Dixieland, bebop and jazz, the masterful poet’s words remain relevant and timely today. With his talented group of musicians, the impressively versatile Ron McCurdy, Ph.D., as narrator and on trumpet, makes heads bob, fingers snap and feet tap.

This lively production was named “Live Experience of the Year” at the 2016 JazzFM Awards in London.

Tickets

High schoolers! Share your voice and enter your poem for a chance to win a free Spoken Word workshop and the chance to perform on the Lakewood Cultural Center’s stage!

Entry Form

Finalists are awarded a free workshop with a teaching artist to learn the basics of performing spoken word. Two talented student artists will be chosen as winners to perform their poem at the beginning of The Langston Hughes Project performance at the Lakewood Cultural Center on Feb. 28, accompanied by original music from the Ron McCurdy Quartet written specially for each winning poem. Submissions close December 31.