Lighting The Road To The Future Downtown Super Data Zone Sunday Hihghlights Page 6 “The People’s Paper” April 14 - April 20, 2018 52nd Year Volume 50 www.ladatanews.com A Data News Weekly Exclusive Page 2 Newsmaker Data Zone Four Mayor’s Gather for Freret Street Tricentennial Festival Fun Page 5 Page 7 Page 2 April 14 - April 20, 2018 Cover Story www.ladatanews.com Anthony Bean Community Theater A Camp Where Stars Are Born The ABTC theater camp is an exciting 9-Week Developmental Theater Arts Program for children ages 7-17, under the Direction of the award-winning, highly acclaimed Actor, Director, & Playwright, Anthony Bean. By: Edwin Buggage - ABCT Performing Arts Summer Camp . The ABCT velop,” says Bean . “Some even make it a career goal, I Data News Weekly Editor Summer Program is more than a Camp . It’s Culture! am proud when I see many of my former students that The theater camp is an exciting 9-Week Developmen- includes renowned actors such as Wendell Pierce and tal Theater Arts Program for children ages 7-17, under Gary Anthony Sturgis doing well and knowing that I ABCT Summer Camp Inspires the tutelage of the award-winning, highly acclaimed was one of the bricks that set the foundation for them Greatness in Young People Actor, Director, & Playwright, Anthony Bean . reaching their full potential .” Summer is swiftly approaching, and registration “One of things I enjoy most is working with children The ABCT Summer Performance Arts Camp pro- has begun for the Anthony Bean Community Theater training them as actors are seeing them grow and de- vides a sense of community and promotes self-aware- Cover Story, Continued on page 4. DATA NEWS WEEKLY P.O. Box 57347, New Orleans, LA 70157-7347 | Phone: (504) 821-7421 | Fax: (504) 821-7622 INSIDE DATA editorial: [email protected] | advertising: [email protected] Terry B. Jones Contributors Art Direction & CEO/Publisher Edwin Buggage Production MainorMedia.com Edwin Buggage Jade Myers Cover Story . 2 Commentary . 8. Editorial Submissions Editor Kichea S. Burt datanewseditor@ Cheryl Mainor bellsouth.net Julianne Malveaux Newsmaker . 5 State & Local News . 9 Managing Editor Advertising Inquiries Temitayo Odulaja datanewsad@ Calla Victoria Stacy M. Brown bellsouth.net Executive Assistant Distribution Pool Photo Data Zone . 6 National News . 11. June Hazeur On The Run Accounting Derrick Johnson Courier Services Please call 504-309-9913 for subscription information or to obtain a back issue of the paper ONLY. Dated material two weeks in advance. Not responsible for publishing or return of unsolicited manuscripts or photos. 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Cannot be combined with any savings pass/coupon, extra discount or credit offer except opening a new Macy’s account. Extra savings % applied to reduced prices. Purchase must be $25 or more, exclusive of tax and delivery fees. N8030008J.indd 1 3/30/18 10:46 AM Page 4 April 14 - April 20, 2018 Cover Story www.ladatanews.com Cover Story, Continued from page 2. ness and personal development . and practices kept us as second- The students are immersed in a class citizens . We have become free, theatrical experience that not only but many of the remnants of this educates them about the arts but still exist in our community . This is fosters cultural awareness, team why is it important for ABCT, and work, and respect for one another . any Black-Owned Enterprise must Additionally, it helps them under- support each other so we can con- stand how to use their emotions trol and to tell our stories and give to create roles and learn about ourselves a spiritual lift . We must do themselves . The program is all en- this to also let the world know that compassing as it relates to theater we are human beings and that we arts, which includes acting, play- deserve to be respected and pro- writing, rehearsal & production, tected as human beings .” performance, costuming, lighting and set building . ABCT Building for the Future Anthony Bean Theater has done Celebrating and amazing productions in its former Examining Community uptown location, but today Bean is through the Arts focused on securing the financing Beaming with pride of the suc- The ABCT Performing Arts Summer Camp experience always culminates with a much-awaited production, for a planned multi-purpose facility cess of his camp over the years showcasing the phenomenal ABCT kids. Last year’s end of the summer production was the Tony Award dedicated to the arts . Bean remarks, “I have been doing Winning hit musical play Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “CATS” “We have the plans drawn up for it for at least 45 years . The camp fo- stitution . Whether it is a university the building that is the old St . Ray- cuses on representation, self-pride, or a church, we need those kinds mond Church and school on Paris identity, communication skills all of alliances if we are to prosper as Avenue that will house a record- those things but most of all self- a people .” ing studio, a dance studio, a media worth . All of those things fit into newsroom and of course a theater acting lessons .” Art with A Purpose and the where we will be training kids . It is Bean feels that it is important Rebuilding of a Human also important to note that this will that African-Americans control the In the aftermath of Hurricane be it Black owned,” remarks Bean . narrative when telling stories about Katrina, we have seen the City go Continuing he says, “We need to their community . This has been through changes with some opin- teach them the true techniques of something that is key to his work ioned range of viewpoints; some acting but from our perspective . over the years as he’s presented for the better, worse or is it some- We can teach them to assimilate, many stories onstage over the years where in between? New Orleans is but how to be your true self, how that’s explored many topics but told a City that is a cultural jewel that’s we walk, and talk, we have a whole through an African-American lens . celebrating 300 years in 2018 . Its new magic to bring forth and the “Seeing yourself on stage and tell- heritage is that of living, breathing world would love us for it . Because ing your own story is important es- ever evolving culture . What Bean we already teach the world to sing pecially today . For too long it’s been has done throughout his years in and dance and we can continue that told by other races and oftentimes it theater is tell our stories, who we with acting if we understand who is distorted and plays to stereotypes are what we were, what we are and we are as a people and our stories and is a misrepresentation of who where we are going . He believes have value that all people can relate we are as a people,” Bean says pas- his and other Black owned and con- to .” sionately . “I think it’s very impor- trolled institutions are important in Over the years ABCT Produc- tant for a Black child or a Black per- telling our story? tions and his camps continue to be son in general to look at themselves Speaking about the importance successful by all measures . Bean is onstage or on television and say yes of art and artists telling the story of thankful for all the support he’s got- that is my story .