12D • M.L.K. EDition • January 16-22, 2014 MLK meets Malcolm (onstage) Save your sight Black Rep for MLK Day production of ‘The Meeting’ Free glaucoma continues screenings through Jan. 26 at holiday health fair American staff

“The Meeting,” a play American staff dramatizing a fictional meeting between Dr. Martin January is National Luther King and Malcolm X, Glaucoma Awareness Month, According to the Glaucoma opened at The Black Rep on an important reminder for Research Foundation, Friday, January 8 and will run at-risk adults to visit an eye glaucoma is the leading cause through January 26 at The doctor for a full, dilated exam. of preventable blindness, Black Rep’s new location at Saving Sight is celebrating by accounting for 9-12 percent the Emerson Performance offering free healthy vision of all cases of blindness. Center at Harris-Stowe State screenings for glaucoma Glaucoma causes vision loss University. and age-related macular when elevated eye pressure “This play manages to give degeneration to help identify damages the optic nerve. a balanced perspective,” said people at high risk, including In most cases, this vision actor/director/filmmaker/actor an event in St. Louis on loss is gradual and painless, Ka’ramuu Kush told Kenya Saturday, January 18 that is often making the disease Matthew Galbreath plays Dr. King and Ka’ramuu Kush plays Malcolm X in the Vaughn of The American. free and open to the public. undetectable, which is why it is Black Rep’s current production of Jeff Stetson’s play “The Meeting.” “My hope is that anyone who The Healthy Vision also known as the “sneak thief sees it at the very least says, Screening will be held at the of sight.” ‘Wow, I thought Malcolm was American Heart Association’s For this reason, screenings all this way, but he’s not – or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and regular eye exams are I thought Martin was all this by Assata Shakur featuring in “A Midsummer Night’s get our check,” King said in Health Fair and Luncheon at useful in identifying glaucoma way, but he’s not.’” Omari Hardwick; “Suite,” Dream.” the clip. Sheraton City Center, 400 S. so vision loss can be prevented. Kush is playing Malcolm a three-part feature film on “Seeing these two titans “He sounded like Malcolm 14th St. Glaucoma screenings Saving Sight is a 501(c) X in Jeff Stetson’s play, the lives, loves and music of engage and sharing their on that clip, didn’t he?” Kush will be available from 8-11 (3) nonprofit organization which is centered around a John Coltrane, Thelonious thoughts and concepts is really said. a.m. Pre-registration for the with a mission to change lives fictional conversation between Monk and Miles Davis; and powerful,” Kush told The He added, “Malcolm also event is required. by saving sight. Founded in Malcolm X and Dr. Martin “Solomon,” a cable TV pilot American. “I don’t think you evolved into embracing whites The event is intended to Columbia, Mo. in 1960, the Luther King Jr. on the eve of in development with John can walk away from this play and realizing that it wasn’t so increase awareness of risk organization introduced eye Malcolm X’s assassination in Singleton. and say this one was all right much about color as it was factors and warning signs in the donation and the gift of sight to February 1965. Directed by Galbreath is a native of and that one was all wrong. about a mentality. I think they African-American community. Missouri. Today, Saving Sight Ron Himes, the production Jefferson City, Missouri. He You see that they were in fact both really start to resemble According to the National Eye operates vision health programs also stars Matthew Galbreath has spent the last five years mirror images of each other in each other towards the end of Institute, African Americans that serve nearly 50,000 people as Dr. King. working regionally with New a lot of ways.” their lives.” over the age of 40 are at higher worldwide each year, and its Kush, a native of Detroit, Stage Theatre in Jackson, Kush shared with The The Black Rep’s risk for glaucoma. offices are located in Missouri, and has made frequent Mississippi, and he graduated American rare footage of presentation of “The Using a non-contact Kansas, and central Illinois. appearances at The Black from Jackson State University Dr. King he stumbled upon Meeting” continues through tonometer, a Saving Sight For more information about Rep. was last seen at The in 2011. This will be his during his research for “The January 26 at Harris-Stowe technician will screen adults the screening, please contact Black Rep in the title role in fifth production with The Meeting.” It was filmed just State University’s Emerson at the health fair for elevated [email protected] or Tamara Shakespeare’s “Pericles,” and Black Rep. Most recently he days before his assassination Performance Center. For eye pressure, and people who Oberbeck, vision screening as Elijah McCoy in Andrew appeared in “Black Nativity: as he prepared for the Poor tickets or more information, receive a high-pressure reading program manager, directly Moodie’s “The Real McCoy.” A Holiday Celebration.” Last People’s Campaign to march call 314-534-3807 or visit will be urged to visit an eye at 1-800-753-2265 x8518. Current work includes season he was featured as on Washington, D.C. www.theblackrep.org. doctor for a vision exam and For more information about “Die Enormous,” an action Chance in “Smash/Hit!” He “When we go to any necessary treatment to the organization, please visit drama feature film inspired was also seen as Nick Bottom Washington, we are coming to prevent vision loss. saving-sight.org.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 The St. Louis Public Library salutes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 18 Baden Branch | 8448 Church Rd. 1-3 p.m. Fourth Annual Rhythm & Rhyme: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Rhyme Man” Stanley Pitchford and guests recite poetry and read their works. Baby Ra performs a musical tribute. Ages 12 & up/Families January 27 Schlafl y Branch | 225 N. Euclid Ave. 6-8 p.m. Monday Movie Madness (The Fight for Civil Rights: Yesterday & Today): Sisters of Selma—Bearing Witness for Change. Sr. Antona Ebo recounts her journey with Catholic nuns from across the country in answer to Dr. King’s call to join protests in Selma, Alabama. (60 min.)

SAVE THE DATE: February 9, 2014

Black History Month Keynote Address by Wil Haygood Central Library | 2 p.m. The Library is proud to present a keynote address by Wil Haygood, author of the New York Times bestseller, The Butler.

All events are FREE and open to the public. Seating is fi rst-come, fi rst-served. What do you want to know?

1301 Olive St. | St. Louis, MO • 63103-2325 | 314.206.6779 | slpl.org