FALL SEASON ______Sep 17 Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song ______Nov 4–6 Dorrance Dance ETM Double Down Copresented with Chicago Human Rythm Project and Chicago Humanities Festival ______Dec 1–4, 8–11 ONEOFUS Julie Atlas Muz and Mat Fraser Beauty and the Beast ______Dec 16–17 Tatsu Aoki Reduction Copresented with Asian Improv aRts Midwest ______Dec 17–18 Tatsu Aoki Tsukasa Taiko Legacy Copresented with Asian Improv aRts Midwest Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago Sept 17, 2016 “Unnatural” (1971/2010) “Ain’t Gonna Be” (1971/2010) Burnt Sugar the “Hoppin John” (1971) Arkestra Chamber “Mojo Woman” (1971) “Sandra Z” (1971) Sweet Sweetback’s “Moo Moo’s Song” (1971/2010) “Sandra Z Reprise” (1971) Baadasssss Song “Come On Feet” (1971) ______JAMILA WOODS “Won’t Bleed Me” (1971) Bass Erik Hunter “What the . . . . You Mean I Can’t Sing?!” (1973)

Guitar Brian Sanborn “Riding Tonight” (1971/2010) Percussion Chris Paquette “World’s All Stage” (1971/2010) ______“Bow Wow Wow” (1971/2010) INTERMISSION “Sweepback’s Theme” (1971) ______BURNT SUGAR THE ARKESTRA CHAMBER Running time: 120 minutes, with one intermission Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber performs Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, the original soundtrack by Melvin Van Peebles. Vocals, Harmonica, Conduction Mikel Banks

Vocals, Percussion, Conduction Shelley Nicole Alto Saxes, Vocals Micah Gaugh Guitar Ben Tyree Keyboards, Samchillean Leon Gruenbaum Drums Lafrae Sci Electric Bass Jared Michael Nickerson

The performance of Melvin Van Peebles’s soundtrack is presented in conjunction with SWEET SWEETBACK’S BAADASSSSS SONG Kerry James Marshall: Mastry. The MCA and Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber acknowledge and thank Melvin Van Peebles— godfather of the 1970’s “blaxsploitation” genre of African American action films and a seminal “Sweetback Medley: Sweetback Theme” (1971)—featuring member of the modern black film movement and independent cinema worldwide—for his Sandra Z, Bow Wow Wow, and Birth Certificate contributions to cinema and the arts. ABOUT THE FILM Nov 4–6 Melvin Van Peebles’s Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971) at MCA Stage is an important film in the history of American cinema that has made a lasting impression to this day. The largest grossing independent film at the time it was released, it remains on Variety’s list of all-time top grossing films forty-five years later. The film—which follows the life of an African-American Dorrance Dance man on the run from white authorities—heralded a new era in black film and independent filmmaking.

Dorrance Dance Burnt Sugar Arkestra Photo: Christopher Duggan Photo: Ken Weiss Van Peebles was born in Chicago in 1932. In 1954, after graduating with a BA in literature from Ohio Wesleyan ETM: Double Down University, he joined the US Air Force and served for three years. He married German actress and photographer Maria Marx, and they moved to Mexico, where they lived briefly before settling in San Francisco. It was there that Van Peebles first began to think critically about the way movies Dec 1–4, 8–11 portrayed people of color. at MCA Stage A prolific director, screenwriter, playwright, novelist, and composer, Van Peebles scripted, directed, and wrote the music score for Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. He also shot the film himself. His fast paced montages and jump cuts were ONEOFUS innovative techniques at the time, and they created a paranoid and psychedelic effect that embodied the protagonist’s Julie Atlas Muz alienation and the nightmare his life had become. Van Peebles sought complete control in the making of the and Mat Fraser film after struggling with the limitations imposed by studios. He funded it himself—using much of his own money and hiring primarily nonprofessional actors and crew members— shot the film over a period of nineteen days, and edited it himself. He gave his music score to the then little-known Earth, Wind & Fire to play for the soundtrack recording. He also directed the film’s entire marketing campaign. Not having any money for traditional advertising methods, he released the soundtrack album prior to the film’s release in order to generate publicity. Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song’s gross of ten million dollars in 1971 was the largest of any independent film up to then, despite its wide censoring in markets and mixed critical reviews. It inspired Hollywood studios to create films targeting black audiences at the same time that it prompted Huey P. Newton to devote an entire issue of The Black Panther to the film’s revolutionary implications. Spike Lee has stated, “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song gave us all the answers we needed. This was an example of how to make a film (a real movie), distribute it yourself, and most important, get paid.” In 2010, Van Peebles decided to bring his film to the stage and chose Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber to be his twenty-first-century Earth Wind & Fire. The combined work made its theatrical world premiere at the Sons d’Hiver Festival in Paris, France, in February 2010.

ONEOFUS Julie Atlas Muz and Mat Fraser, Beauty and the Beast Photo: Sin Bozkurt Beauty and the Beast collaborates with James Iha of the legendary Dayton throughout New York City, ABOUT (of Smashing Pumpkins) scene, which spawned many the United States, and THE ARTISTS on remixes for The Sounds, musicians, such as the Ohio Europe. Nicole—named one Ladytron, and The Yeah, Players, Slave, and members of the “Hot 100 Celebrities” Mikel Banks Yeah, Yeahs. Gaugh acted in of Heatwave. He advanced by AfterEllen.com in 2010— (aka the Spirithood) the season five premier of his music studies at the has shared the stage with performs as a vocalist, music- Sex in the City and is in a play University of Notre Dame notable artists and bands, ian (digital horn, harmonica, entitled American Book of under the direction of Father including , Toshi percussion, and flute), the Dead. He also paints and Wiskerchen, who is noted for Reagon, India Arie, Erykah actor (in Beyoncé and Jay Z writes novels. developing three members Badu, and Nona Hendryx. videos), storyteller, and of the band Chicago’s horn Nicole’s hit single “blaK Girls” teaching artist. He currently Leon Gruenbaum section. After graduating, earned a spot in the forth- performs with Burnt Sugar has been a part of the New Nickerson studied at the New coming film Homecoming, the Arkestra Chamber, Digital York music scene for more England Conservatory of written and directed by Diaspora, the Roughstars, than twenty-five years. After Music in Boston. He moved Eugene Ashe. The song has and the Dustbin Brothers. receiving classical training to New York with The already been featured in the His new project Mr. Mikel’s early on in piano and clarinet, Human Switchboard, the first documentary and sound- Tot Rock & Reggae Experience Gruenbaum developed band he joined, during the track of the film U People (ABC’s, 123’s, and Positives an interest in , funk, and 1980s, before starting his own and was featured along with for Pre-Schoolers and First avant-garde music. He band, JJ Jumpers, which songs by Alicia Keys, Faith Graders) is an outgrowth of conceived the world’s first became part of the Black Evans, and Beyoncé on the his being a preschool music relativistic music keyboard, Rock Coalition. Nickerson Fuse Box Radio Mixtape: A teacher. Banks has developed a patented MIDI controller has been the business Female Rise to Power. Nicole’s new songs and adapted some called the Samchillian Tip manager for Burnt Sugar acting credits include traditional ones to reggae Tip Tip Cheeepeeeee, and Index LLC since its inception the rock documentary Electric and rock styles, all with has recorded and performed in 1999. As a freelancer, Purgatory, for which she sing-along messages for the internationally with this he has played with various wrote the song “Release.” little ones. instrument alongside guitarist groups and musicians, Her latest project, The Vernon Reid (). including The Roots, Katell Quick and Dirty EP, is set to Micah Gaugh He has also collaborated Keineg, Marc Anthony release this fall. was born in Colon, Panama, with The Roots, Vernon Reid, Thompson, Catie Curtis, Marc and has lived most of his Burnt Sugar, and others. His Cary, and DJ Logic. He has LaFrae Sci adult life in the East Village, most recent project, “Genes made multiple television is an internationally sought- New York. Gaugh has and Machines,” features appearances on Late Night after composer, drummer, collaborated with artists such Gruenbaum performing with David Letterman, The and educator, as well as as Lady Miss Kier from Samchillian and vocals Tonight Show with Conan the director of the Middle Dee-lite, Arto Lindsay, Marc accompanied by acoustic and O Brien, and The John School Jazz Academy, Ribot, James ‘Blood’ Ulmer, electronic drummers. In Stewart Show and appeared Brooklyn chapter for Jazz at Melvin Gibbs, Vernon 2003–04, Gruenbaum was in Nelson George’s “Finding the Lincoln Center. She Reid in both studio and live a visiting artist at Harvard the Funk” documentary, is also a founding teaching performance settings. University, where he led which was accepted to member of the Willie Mae He has written two operas students in an Interactive numerous film festivals. Rock Camp for Girls in (Dr. Faustus Lights the Lights Anti-Fashion Show. New York City. As a Cultural and a piece for the artist Shelley Nicole Ambassador for the US Rirkrit Taravanija), music for Jared Michael Nickerson is an active member in the State Department, she has the Matthew Barney movie was born in Cleveland, Ohio, New York music scene who taught master classes Di Lama Lamina and a choral and reared in Dayton. He founded the label Red and performed in more than work commissioned by the started playing bass in high Butterfly Music. Her band, thirty countries. Sci’s band, Chiesa Rosa in Milan, and he school talent shows as part blaKbüshe, performs The 13th Amendment?, recently premiered her Louis Armstrong Fellowship second commissioned Professor at Columbia ABOUT THE orchestral jazz work, written University’s Jazz Studies ENSEMBLE for eighty pieces, titled The Center. He has also Time Traveler Suite: An taught in Yale’s graduate Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Afro-Futurist Travel Journal. art department. Chamber was conceived in 1999 by Ben Tyree Greg “Iron Man” Tate, was born in Dayton, Ohio, is a product of the diverse who coleads the ensemble and reared in Washington, music scene in Washington, with bassist Jared Michael DC. In 1999, he founded DC. He began playing Nickerson. The group offers Burnt Sugar the Arkestra the guitar at age four and a New York–based forum Chamber, a twelve-to-twenty- studied both jazz and for improvisational musicians six member conductor-led classical music in high school— to compose, record, and improvisation ensemble, all while writing rock Jamila Woods perform material that which has since released songs and going to nightly Photo: Zoe Rain/Whitney Middleton reflects the breadth and sixteen albums. In addition jam sessions at blues Jamila Woods depth of American diasporic to being a musician and clubs. He continued his studies is a Chicago-based soul music in the twenty-first composer, Tate is also at DC’s prestigious Duke singer, songwriter, and poet. century. The Arkestra an accomplished writer. Ellington School of the Arts She is widely known for Chamber uses Butch Morris’s His writings on culture and and at Howard University. her collaborative works that conduction system to politics have been published In 1998, Tyree cofounded the reflect upon the African access a wide swath of the in The New York Times, band Miscellaneous Flux, American experience. She soul, jazz, hip-hop, and The Washington Post, and which performs a fusion of worked on the hit song rock spectrum and make Rolling Stone Magazine. jazz, hip-hop, and punk “Sunday Candy” with Chance every performance a The Source Magazine named rock. Their acclaimed 2002 the Rapper, who featured fresh interpretation of its him one of the “Godfathers full-length CD, Dead in in Woods’s single “Blk constituent parts. of Hiphop Journalism” for Dreams, won a “Wammie” Girl Soldier.” Woods also his development of the black (Washington Area Music performed a part in the Rather than limit themselves film genre and his work’s Association award) and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis to the straightjacket groundbreaking influence on garnered four other nomina- song “White Privilege II.” imposed by the commercial the social, political, economic, tions for the band members, In January 2016, she signed recording industry that and cultural landscape of including Best Urban to the independent Chicago markets contemporary black his time. Tate has also written Contemporary Instrumentalist hip-hop label Closed Sessions, music, Burnt Sugar moves numerous books, the play for Tyree. He has collabo- which released her first freely among styles, eras, and My Darling Gremlin (1993), rated with many artists, album, Heavn, in July; com- genres to devise its own and the short film Black Body including Vernon Reid, Kyp posed of thirteen tracks, exciting hybrids. These Radiation (2006). He is a Malone, and Nicholas Payton, it focus on black girlhood hybrids are based on a solid founding member of the sharing high-profile stages and Chicago and features foundation of various musical Black Rock Coalition, an such as the Apollo, New York performances by Chance traditions and make use organization begun in 1985 City’s Blue Note, Lincoln the Rapper, Noname, Saba, of cutting-edge technology. that supports black musicians. Center, and the Kennedy Lorine Chia and Donnie In this sense, the group’s Tate has served as the Center. He performs Trumpet. Woods is the mission honors its greatest Sterling Brown Fellow in regularly and has scored associate artistic director of inspirations, the first post- Africana Studies at Williams several independent films as Young Chicago Authors, modernists of American College in Williamstown, well as composed pieces the non-profit organization music: Duke Ellington, Sun Ra, Massachusetts, as visiting for television, which have behind the Louder Than Parliament , professor of Africana studies appeared on ESPN and a Bomb youth poetry slam and The Art Ensemble of at Brown University, and as in advertising campaigns. festival. Chicago. Dec 16–18 at MCA Stage Tatsu Aoki

Burnt Sugar Arkestra is conversant with the idioms Photo: Libby McLin and recording techniques of To support their ambitious hip-hop, drum and bass, jazz, venture, the group pursues and alternative rock. In audience development today’s musical context, there in many forms—live perfor- are few American bands that mance, magazine and are as innovative on stage newspaper profiles, and, most and in the recording studio. importantly, avant-garde recordings. Burnt Sugar Burnt Sugar the Arkestra generates new products to Chamber has released highlight their continual fourteen recordings and has metamorphosis, integrating spent the last three years rhythm and blues, vocal “caramelizing” the songbooks extrapolations, rock-and-roll of Sun Ra, Steely Dan, brio, free jazz–horn explora- James Brown, Melvin Van tions, twentieth-century Peebles, David Bowie, Miles string dissonance, and Davis, and Chuck Brown up-to-the-minute electronic for concerts set in venues manipulations. as disparate as The Apollo Theatre, Sons d’Hiver Festival The group’s manifesto—that in France, Rikers Island music, especially music Prison, Cleveland Museum Tatsu Aoki, Reduction designed to expand current of Art, the Kennedy Photo: Ken Carl boundaries, must be heard— Center in Washington, DC, has led to the creation of Bryant Park, and Lincoln the newsletters TruGroid and Center. Burnt Sugar the Reduction and Avant Groidd Musica. These Arkestra Chamber publications fill a major alumni include Matana vacuum, reestablishing a Roberts, , Tsukasa Taiko Legacy presence and profile for Julia Kent, Graham Hayes, American experimental music DJ Mutamassik, Okkyung Tickets at mcachicago.org on the world stage that Lee, and Swiss Chris. The MCA’s newest ENACT MEMBERS THANK YOU affinity group,Enact , Dr. Bruce and Sally Bauer Julie and Shane Campbell Lead support for the 2016–17 season of MCA Stage is provided by is a group of MCA Ms. Shawn M. Donnelley* and Elizabeth A. Liebman. Circle Donors dedicated Dr. Christopher M. Kelly Lois and Steve Eisen and The Eisen Generous support for MCA Dance is provided by David Herro and to supporting the Family Foundation Jay Franke. renowned programs Ginger Farley and Bob Shapiro Martha Struthers Farley and Additional generous support is provided by Caryn and King Harris; of MCA Stage. Join Donald C. Farley, Jr. Family Shawn M. Donnelley and Christopher M. Kelly; Lois and Steve Eisen today for opportunities Foundation, N.A., Trustee and The Eisen Family Foundation; Ginger Farley and Bob Shapiro; David Herro and Jay Franke the Martha Struthers Farley and Donald C. Farley Jr. Family Foundation; to meet artists, Sarai Hoffman and Stephen Pratt Mary E. Ittelson; Sharon and Lee Oberlander; Maya Polsky; Carol Prins gain behind-the-scenes Cynthia Hunt and Philip Rudolph and John Hart/The Jessica Fund; Ellen Stone Belic; Amphion Foundation, Inc.; Mary E. Ittelson Leigh and Henry Bienen; Mark Light; Melynda Lopin; Maecenas; access, and discuss Anne L. Kaplan Herbert R. and Paula Molner; Elizabeth Price and Lou Yecies; and groundbreaking Anne and John Kern Ms. Patricia F. Sternberg. Lisa Yun Lee directions with leading Elizabeth A. Liebman The MCA is a proud partner of the National Performance Network (NPN) curators—all while Sharon* and Lee Oberlander and a proud member of the Museums in the Park and receives major Elizabeth Price and Lou Yecies support from the Chicago Park District. providing vital support. Carol Prins and John Hart/The Jessica Fund BENEFITS OF ENACT Mr. and Mrs. John Seder MEMBERSHIP INCLUDE: Ms. Patricia F. Sternberg Ellen Stone Belic � Members-only programming Richard and Ann Tomlinson throughout the MCA Stage season Foundation Season � Pre and post-performance Sponsor discussions with artists � Behind-the-scenes access to select rehearsals � Invitation to Season Reveal, an annual preview of the Preferred Hotel upcoming season Partner � Opportunities for complimentary drinks and tickets � All benefits of Circle Donors (see mcachicago.org/circle)

Circle Donor membership is required to join Enact. Enact dues are an additional $1,000 annually.

Museum of For more information, contact Contemporary Art 220 East Chicago Avenue us at [email protected]. * Enact Cochair Chicago Chicago, IL 60611 As an internationally renowned institution Anne Kaplan, Chair devoted to contemporary culture, the Museum of the Board of of Contemporary Art Chicago presents the Trustees most thought-provoking visual art and Madeleine Grynsztejn, performing arts of our time. MCA Stage is a Pritzker Director vibrant series presenting theater, dance, and Teresa Samala music by leading artists from the US and de Guzman, Deputy around the world in MCA’s three-hundred-seat Director Edlis Neeson Theater. Michael Darling, James W. Alsdorf MCA Stage’s groundbreaking performances Chief Curator are an integral part of MCA Chicago’s artist-activated, audience-engaged program- PERFORMANCE ming. Along with the museum’s exhibitions PROGRAMS and educational initiatives, they encourage a Yolanda Cesta Cursach, broad and diverse community to experience Curator and discuss the work and ideas of living artists. John Rich, Manager Richard Norwood, Theater Production PARKING Manager Validate your ticket at coat check for $12 Phill Cabeen, Producing parking in the MCA garage (220 East Chicago Assistant Avenue) and the Bernardin garage (747 North Rivka Arbetter, Metcalf Wabash). The $12 parking is limited to six Intern hours on the date of performance. Meghan Claire Coppoletti, Intern LOST AND FOUND Kori Whitby, Intern To inquire about a lost item, call the museum at 312-280-2660. Unclaimed articles are held HOUSE MANAGEMENT for thirty days. Kevin Brown, Associate Megan Cline, Associate SEATING Quinlan Kirchner, Please switch off all noise-making devices Associate while you are in the theater. BOX OFFICE Patrons are seated at the management’s Matti Allison, Manager discretion. Food and open beverage containers Phongtorn Phongluantum, are not allowed in the seating area. Assistant Manager Molly Laemle, REPRODUCTION Coordinator Unauthorized recording and reproduction of Lucas Baisch, Associate a performance are prohibited. Arion Davis, Associate Wright Gatewood, GENERAL INFORMATION Associate 312-280-2660 Peyton Lynch, Associate BOX OFFICE Program notes compiled 312-397-4010 by Yolanda Cesta Cursach VOLUNTEER FOR PERFORMANCES 312-397-4072 [email protected] Museum hours Tuesday: 10 am–8pm Wednesday–Sunday: 10 am–5 pm Closed Mondays, New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas