Savion Glover and Reg E. Gaines join forces to take us back to 1996 when Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk was winning Tony Awards and taking audiences on a ride that only an all Black creative team and producer could deliver.
Noise/Funk maps the story of African Americans, from slavery to liberation through dance, more specifically tap, informing a rhythm that is our own. The poems. The tap. The beat. The groove is shaped by the decade. Wading through the water. Shuffling north. And stomping in solidarity with the Black Power Movement of the ‘60s.
When it opened in 1995, it became an expression of a culture— our culture. Conceived and directed by George C. Wolfe, Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk started at The Public Theater before moving to The Ambassador Theatre. Savion Glover choreographed and starred in the show alongside Baakari Wilder, Jimmy Tate, Vincent Bingham, and Dule Hill. The show was narrated by Ann Duquesnay and Jeffrey Wright, and the book was written by Reg E. Gaines.
As two of the show’s collaborators, Glover and Gaines let us in on Noise/Funk and talk us through their careers up to date.
“Noise/Funk- 20 Years Later” is sponsored by MAM’s African American Cultural Committee (AACC). This event takes place at Montclair Art Museum (Leir Hall) in Montclair, New Jersey on Thursday October 20, 7-8:30p. For more information on joining the AACC please contact wrcroudy@gmail.com.
