“Women of Consequence,” a performance program by University of Delaware students exploring the lives of African American women from the 1800s until today, will launch UD’s Partnership for Arts and Culture from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, March 10.

The performance will take place at the Baby Grand Theatre, 818 North Market Street, Wilmington. Tickets, at $12 apiece, are available at this website.

“Women of Consequence: Ambitious, Ancillary, Anonymous” tells the stories of women who have contributed to the political landscape of America but have often been viewed as ancillary or, worse, anonymous. Through the lens of arts-based research, the program will incorporate dance, music, poetry, drama and the visual arts to bring the lives of these women to life and will promote audience discussion about freedom of expression and equality for all women.

Harriet Tubman, Harriet Jacobs, Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Charlotte Forten and Frances Harper are a few of the women highlighted in the production. Students conducted historical research to uncover these women’s contributions and created ways to showcase them through performance.

The first act of “Women of Consequence” focuses on African American women in the 19th century, examining the Colored Conventions at which they gathered to advocate for social justice and illuminating the lives of “The Three Harriets”—Jacobs, Tubman and Wilson—with dancers Amber Rance, Ikira Peace and April Singleton.

In the second act, performers and narrators tell stories of women from the 20th and 21st centuries. “The Four Roses” is inspired by the South African women who joined the anti-apartheid movement in the 1970s.

The full program is designed to celebrate the past and present contributions of women and to encourage the audience to foster a successful future for all women.

In addition to UD students, performers will include Delaware middle and high school groups and other young dancers.

The University is holding the event in honor of Harriet Tubman Day and Women’s History Month, in conjunction with the Delaware Historical Society’s Mitchell Center.

The “Women of Consequence” artistic director is Lynnette Young Overby, professor of theatre and dance and deputy director of the Community Engagement Initiative at UD; assistant artistic director is Adiah Simpson, a founding member of the Pieces of a Dream dance company; research director is Gabrielle Foreman, Ned B. Allen Professor of English and professor of Africana studies and history at UD; composer is Ralph Anthony Russell; and poet is Glenis Redmond.

About the Partnership for Arts and Culture

The Partnership for Arts and Culture (PAC) is a component of the Community Engagement Initiative of the University of Delaware’s Office of the Provost.

PAC is composed of University members and representatives from Delaware arts and cultural organizations. As a community-facing partnership, PAC has a mission to improve the lives of people and neighborhoods through the arts and humanities.

The strength of this organization is the ability to collaboratively share goals and needs to advance the arts and humanities in Delaware communities.