Student marks MLK by poetry

The Martin Luther King Symposium's events include this weekend's Basement Arts production, "The Blackness Blues - Time to Change the Tune (A Sister's Story)." Written and directed by Music junior Dominique Morisseau, this choreopoem examines African-American culture.

Morisseau wrote "The Blackness Blues" to fill a gap that she saw in the University's theater productions. " I saw the lack of diversity (in theatre) since I've been here at U of M, the lack of something for myself to connect with on stage," Morisseau said.

She also wanted to see more black students in the audience. "That made me want to do it, but what made me want to write it was my love for poetry and my need to be expressive," she said.

This is Morisseau's first attempt at directing and writing for the stage, but she belongs to a performance group called Universal Righteous Poets. "The Blackness Blues" reflects these roots. "It's a combination of poetry and a lot of different cultures embedded into the black culture of America like hip hop, jazz and blues," she said.

The show also mixes monologues and dialogue with poetry. "The nature of it is inspired by 'for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf' by Ntozake Shange," Morisseau explained.

Morisseau's script follows three African-american women on a spiritual journey as they search for their identities and the meaning of freedom. The story raises issues such as unsuccessful relationships, ebonics and the influence of music on everyday life.

"The basic point of the play is to encourage people to rise above stereotypes and labels and all other elements of society that try and limit their potential," Morisseau said. "It's a celebration of loving who you are and understanding who you are and where you came from."

To convey this message, Morisseau chose a cast of 18, a large number for a Basement Arts show. This proved a challenge for blocking and choreography, she said, but was worth it. "Every cast member contributed something from themselves that I will cherish forever."

Morisseau also said she was excited about "the massive amount of love that she received from various organizations and students on campus. People from the University community interested in the show's subject matter volunteered to help with costumes, publicity and the programs.

In addition, the show gained off campus attention. Morisseau said is expecting several out-of-town visitors to see the show. These include members of the Last Poets, a group of well-known artists who began the trend in the '60s toward social critique and street poetry that continues today in hip hop and rap music.

Another exciting aspect of the show, according to Morisseau, was being added to the Martin Luther King symposium. The show "is a long overdue and much needed event on this campus, and I'm really excited about exposing the talent of my cast," she said.

"The Blackness Blues - Time to Change the Tune (A Sister's Story)," runs tomorrow, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. with a special late night performance on Friday at 11 p.m. The Arena Theater is located on the ground floor of the Frieze Building.

Admission is free.

01-13-99