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Newport News Tourism Development Office Fountain Plaza Two 700 Town Center Drive, Suite 320 Newport News, VA 23606 Local: 757-926-1400 Toll Free: 888-493-7386 Fax: 757-926-1441 www.newport-news.org

Release Date: January 29, 2007 For more information: Suzanne Pearson Media Relations Manager (757) 926-1429 or (888) 493-7386 [email protected]

February Brings Special Black History Month Events

Concerts, living history programs, a planetarium show, recent feature films and a classic stage play are only some of the February events in Newport News that celebrate the African-American experience.

The Soweto Gospel Choir lights up the Ferguson Center for the Arts on February 16 with the unique and

inspirational power of African Gospel music. Decked out in vividly colorful traditional attire, this 26-strong

choir is an event not to be missed. Then, get ready for some great music and memories with The Drifters, The

Coasters & The Platters at the Ferguson Center on February 23.

Opening February 23 and running weekends through March 11, is the Peninsula Community Theatre’s

production of A Raisin in the Sun . This powerful drama is set on Chicago’s South Side during the 1950s and

explores the dreams and conflicts within three generations of the Younger family.

Meet members of the first African-American fighter and support squadron during A Salute to the

Tuskegee Airmen on February 10 at the Virginia War Museum and learn some of the amazing stories of

African-American sailors aboard the USS Monitor during World of the 1860s: Abolition & Slavery at The

Mariners’ Museum (February 17).

See the night skies from over 100 years ago at the Virginia Living Museum’s Follow the Drinking

Gourd Planetarium Show on February 10 and 24. This popular show explains how the stars of the northern sky

led slaves to freedom during the era of the Underground Railroad. Stars of the silver screen shine brightly during the Virginia War Museum’s annual Film Fest Month .

This year, enjoy Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Robert De Niro in Men of Honor (February 3); Denzel Washington,

Morgan Freeman and Matthew Broderick in Glory (February 17) and Danny Glover in Buffalo Soldiers

(February 24). Movie magic continues with The African-American Docu-Drama Film Series at The Newsome

House Museum & Cultural Center. Films to be screened include A Woman Named Moses (February 3 and 4);

Akeelah and the Bee (February 17 – 18) and Madea’s Family Reunion (February 24-25).

For more information about these and other February events, call the Newport News Visitor Center

(NNVC) at 757-886-7777 ext. 90, go on-line at www.newport-news.org or stop by the NNVC at 13560

Jefferson Avenue. The NNVC is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and offers attractions, shopping and dining information, as well as maps and brochures.

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