Contact: Dawn Naser [email protected] 724-448-6096

THE STORY BY TRACEY SCOTT WILSON OPENS AT SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

Peggy Cooper Cafritz Mike Malone Washington, D.C 20001.- March 8, 2016-- The Duke Ellington School of Co-Founders Kaya Henderson the Arts is proud to announce its production of The Story by Tracey Scott Chancellor, D.C. Public Schools Wilson. Wilson explores the fine line between an interesting story and a Desepe de Vargas Head of School true story in the American media. When an ambitious African American Tracie Jenkins Director of Arts reporter is hired by a major newspaper, she feels that her assignments Donna Hollis marginalize her. Anxious to rise in the ranks of the paper, she seeks the Director of Student Affairs Sandi Logan right story. When an affluent white teacher is murdered in a “bad” Director of School Administrative neighborhood she investigates a lead that will solve the case and boost her Operations Ronald Lee Newman career, but is it the truth? The Story is a fast-paced, quick-witted narrative Director of Operations and Collaborative Programming that explores the blurring of fact and fiction, morality and ambition in the Savannah Overton American media. Director of Admissions Cameron Van Patterson, Ph.D. Director of Academic Instruction The Story runs March 24-25 at 7:30 with a student matinee performance at th Duke Ellington 12 noon on the 24 . Tickets are $10-$25 and can be purchased online at School of the Arts Project ellingtonschool.org or by calling 202-727-6764. Performances take place (DESAP) th DESAP is an independently operated in the newly renovated Ellington Theatre @ Garnet-Patterson, 2001 10 public school in partnership with: Street, NW 20001. D.C. Public Schools The George Washington University The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Duke Ellington is pleased to collaborate with director Melissa Maxwell on The Ellington Fund The Story. Ms. Maxwell is a New York-based television, film and stage Board of Directors actress, award-winning playwright, director, dramaturge, filmmaker and Charles Barber, Esq. President motivational speaker. She has been invited to present two TEDx Talks and Michael Brewer speaks at Universities across the Country. From her work as an actress on Peggy Cooper Cafritz Larry Franklin shows like Law and Order and The Sopranos to her directing work on the Grace Hong Emmy Awards and her award- winning plays, the students are learning a Robert D. Horvath, Jr. Jeanette McCune great deal from Ms. Maxwell’s wealth of experience as an artist. Alex Romain Gregory Squires Isaac Daniel Duke Ellington Theatre Department radiates with energy and excitement as the students and faculty prepare for performances of The Story. Duke Ellington @ Meyer 2501 11th Street NW Ellington School of the Arts is a pre-professional training program Washington, DC 20001-3923 designed to give talented and motivated students the opportunity to train Academic Departments Administrative Offices with working professionals in preparation for a career in the arts. After General School Mail Delivery four years of intense training, theatre students are prepared to enter top

Ellington @ Garnet-Patterson Universities to study theatre. Currently theatre students attend Yale 2001 10th Street NW University, Harvard University, New York University, Julliard, Carnegie Washington, DC 20001-4007 Arts Departments Mellon, and . Administrative Offices Ellington Fund 202.282.0123 Office For more information about The Story and to purchase tickets, please visit www.ellingtonschool.org ellingtonschool.org or call 202-727-8764.

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“The Legacy Continues”