Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Matthew Rushing's ODETTA

Repertory

ODETTA

CHOREOGRAPHER

WORLD PREMIERE

New York City Center, 2014

ASSISTANTS TO CHOREOGRAPHER

Renee Robinson and Michael Jackson, Jr.

MUSIC

Odetta, Dr. Ysaye M. Barnwell

SOUND DESIGN

Russell J. Cowans IV

SET

Travis George

ARTWORK

Stephen Alcorn

LIGHTING

Andre Vasquez

RUN TIME

40 Minutes

Odetta Holmes—one of the most influential singers of the 20th century—is rediscovered as Matthew Rushing marries soul-stirring movement to songs by the artist anointed by Martin Luther King, Jr., as “the queen of American folk music.” Rushing’s work pays tribute to Holmes as a singer, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist.  

With a musical repertoire encompassing American folk music, blues, jazz, and spirituals, Odetta Holmes influenced key figures in the 1960s folk-revival scene including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Mavis Staples, and Janis Joplin. Her song "Take This Hammer" was included on TIME magazine's list of the All-Time 100 Songs. When President Clinton honored Odetta with the National Medal of Arts and Humanities, he remarked, “Odetta reminds us all that songs have the power to change the heart and change the world.” 

music credits

Quote from Marianne Williamson’s book A Return to Love, read by Odetta F. Gordon.* “This Little Light of Mine.”* “Prettiest Train.” “Last Word: Odetta.”^ “Ox Driver Song.” “John Henry.” Audio clip of Odetta interviewed by Camille Cosby; audio interview from archival materials courtesy of The National Visionary Leadership Project; www.visionaryproject.org. “There’s a Hole in the Bucket” by Harry Belafonte and Odetta Felious Gordon. Published by Clara Music Publishing Corp. (ASCAP) Clara Music Publishing Corp. Administered by Next Decade Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.* “Last Word: Odetta.”^ “Motherless Children.”* “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.”* “Last Word: Odetta.”^ “Cool Water” by Bob Nolan. “Masters of War” by Bob Dylan. “Glory, Glory.”* “Freedom Trilogy,” musical arrangement by Ysaye M. Barnwell and Seth Farber; vocal performance by Ysaye M. Barnwell and piano performance by Seth Farber.* 
*Words and Music by Odetta F. Gordon. Pookie Tree Publishing Co. (ASCAP). Odetta's name, voice, likeness, and biographical information provided courtesy of the Estate of Odetta. www.odettamusic.com ^Audio from “Last Word: Odetta” interview. Audio provided by T3Media from the interview: “Last Word: Odetta.”

sponsors

The creation of ODETTA was supported by commissioning funds from New York City Center. Major support for this production was provided by American Express. Generous support was provided by Roberta Campbell & Richard Gray, Melinda & Paul Pressler, Daria L. & Eric J. Wallach, and the Pamela D. Zilly & John H. Schaefer New Works Endowment Fund. Additional support was provided by The Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn & Nicolas Rohatyn New Works Endowment Fund and The Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey – Sara and Bill Morgan New Works Endowment Fund.