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Event Series:
History Behind Hairspray: the Dance of Desegregation
History Behind Hairspray: the Dance of Desegregation
March 25, 2023 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
$5
Suggested Donation | RSVP in advance
Two performances at 11:00am and 2:00pm!
Baltimore School for the Arts Theater Department is excited to present History Behind “Hairspray”: the Dance of Desegregation. These three short plays with student actors and designers explore what the history books leave out. For the past 15 years the Baltimore School for the Arts Theater Department has collaborated with historic sites in Baltimore to present student generated work rooted in research. Past partners include the Walters, the National Park Service, the Maryland Center for History and Culture, the Enoch Pratt Library Central Branch, The Eubie Blake Cultural Center, and the Jewish Museum of Maryland. This year’s topic, History Behind “Hairspray”: the Dance of Desegregation; explores the true story of the protests to integrate the Buddy Deane Show, historic Black Carr’s Beach, and the cultural landscape of Baltimore in early days of school integration.
Our plays bring guest artist Ayesis Clay, and faculty members Tony Tsendeas, Lynne Childress, and Paul Reisman to write and direct material based on student created characters. Students researched and conducted oral history interviews with people who lived through this challenging transition in our city’s history. We are excited to be performing this year at the Peale, Baltimore’s Community Museum. This historic building has had many purposes in its life, including a school for Black students as early as 1870. (You can read more about the Peale’s role in Black educational history here School One – The Peale.) After the performance, the audience is invited to a short talk back with the BSA team about the research, the process, and the history.
Accessibility
Accessibility
ASL interpretation is available upon request for this event. ASL requests must be made three full business days prior to an event.
Wheelchair and Physical Building Access / The Peale has a brand new elevator! The new accessible entrance is on the left side of the building, down Watchouse alley about 100 ft. There is a keypad on the right side of the elevator door. Press the button to call the elevator. There is a door that will swing open automatically once the elevator is called so stand back. Once the door is open you can enter the elevator portico and then step/roll/dance into the elevator. When you come out of the elevator you will be in a short hallway by the bathrooms and the lobby and welcome desk is on the right. There are three floors in the Peale there is a handrail on all flights of stairs. Various and ample forms of seating is available in every room. The historic entrance has five steps and no functioning handrail.
Parking / There is a temporary drop off spot in the “no parking” zone directly in front of the Holliday St. entrance. There are multiple public paid parking lots within a two block radius of The Peale as well as street parking. There are 4 access parking spots on the 200 block of Holliday Street.
Visual Descriptions and more / For additional information about captioning, ASL, services, and more, please visit our Accessibility page.
Visual Descriptions and more / For additional information about captioning, ASL, services, and more, please visit our Accessibility page.