When Harlem Came to Paris continues celebration of Black Culture

Feb. 25, 2010 - PRLog -- As
 Black 
History 
Month
 concludes, 
Lil 
SoSo 
Productions
 continues
 to 
give 
Washingtonians
an
 opportunity
 to 
celebrate 
Black
 Culture. 
“When
 Harlem 
Came 
to
 Paris” 
(WHCTP), 
a
 visual
celebration 
of
 African 
American
 literature, 
music, 
culture 
and 
theater 
from 
the 
1920s 
and
 30s,
 offers 
attendees 
an 
opportunity
 to
 explore 
the 
oft
 neglected
 impact
 African American
pioneers
 made 
abroad 
in
 an 
intriguing 
and 
unique 
fashion; 
transporting
 attendees 
to 
the Harlem
 Renaissance 
era
 while 
in 
Paris.

Returning in its third consecutive year, the much-anticipated “When Harlem Came to Paris,” is set this year in 1926. WHCTP is produced by LiL SoSo Productions (LSP), which partners with The Alliance Française de Washington. Following the fictitious back-story, Harlem socialite Mamie Mason travels with and hosts   the “best and brightest of America’s Negro artists,” on a cultural tour of Paris. They celebrate their last night in Paris, at a salon-style party, which serves as the main event. The production allows attendees to immerse themselves in the authenticity of the time: dressing in 1920s style fashions, witnessing portrayals and interacting with figures of that time; all the while enjoying live music, a silent art auction, and a full buffet with a variety of time-inspired cocktails. This year’s tribute will focus on the young band of visionaries who produced the infamous Fire ! ! literary magazine and music talent from the blues and early jazz era.

Presenting a new format this year, WHCTP will be conducted in three segments composed of two pre-events, both free to the public and leading up to the signature main event. The preliminary event on Monday, March 1st,  “pARTake: Remembering Harlem,” takes place from 6pm - 9pm at The
 Alliance
 Française, located 
at 
2142
 Wyoming
 Avenue
 in 
Washington,
D.C.

"pARTake," is the brainchild of Sharon Burton of Authentic Contemporary Arts Consulting. Burton will serve as host and moderator of this part discussion and art reception, which will allow participants the opportunity to engage in conversation about the relevance of the Harlem Renaissance, while previewing art that will be auctioned during the main event. This forum will feature a panel that includes Risikat “Kat” Okedeyi of LSP, Sylvain Corneveaux, cultural director for the Alliance and cast members. After the discussion attendees will view the art and take in light refreshments while a DJ plays blues and jazz music from the 1920s.

Next, “The Arrival: The Gang’s All Here” will take place on Saturday, March 13th from 11am - 1pm, at Napoleon Bistro, located at 1847 Columbia Road, NW. Engaging the back-story of WHCTP, attendees will meet the portrayed artists in a staged, yet unscripted social preview of what’s to come. This event includes brunch, press and photographers, and dj playing 1920s blues and jazz. Attendees are encouraged to dress in fashions of the era. This event                            
requires reservations, which should be made at 202-299-9630.

Finally, on Saturday, March 20th at 7pm, the main event “When Harlem Came to Paris” takes center stage at The Alliance
 Française. This year the portrayed include literary artists Langston Hughes, Zora Neal Hurston, Richard Bruce Nugent, Wallace Thurman; and musical artists Claude McKay, W.C. Handy, Ma Rainey, Lillian Harding-Armstrong and Fats Waller.

Visual artists were also an important element of the Harlem Renaissance and in honor of this component WHCTP will feature a silent auction, hosted by Authentic Contemporary Arts curator Sharon J. Burton. The auction features 12 original pieces created by James Terrell; and a portion of all proceeds will go to the Alliance’s ABEI foundation, which currently brings French language and culture education to six high-need DC public schools.

Tickets are $65 for the General Public and $55 for Alliance Members

About Lil SoSo Productions:
Established in September 2001, Lil SoSo Productions (LSP) is a multifaceted company that specializes in event concept production, among many other capabilities. Known for its unique events, LSP is the future of cultural entertainment with the ability to provide visibility to an often under marketed demographic that tends to shy away from the mainstream. Marketing schemes. LSP’s serves a client base that is racially diverse, with non-traditional lifestyles choices and professions who are highly engaged in cultural and historical events.

About Alliance Française de Washington:
The Alliance Française, a 501c3 organization not subsidized by the French Government, is the largest network of French language and cultural centers in the world. There are 1,300 Alliance chapters established in 12 countries, including 140 chapters in the United States, serving 400,000 students. The Alliance Française de Washington is affiliated with the first of all Alliances, the Alliance Française de Paris. L’Alliance Française is dedicated to promoting French language and culture, and to fostering friendly relations between Francophones and Francophiles of all racial, national and ethnic origins. With more than 3,200 members L’Alliance Française de Washington DC, a nonprofit, non-governmental and educational association, is headed by a Franco American Board of Directors.

To see footage from the WHCTP 2008 & 2009 events, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTfcBsBC3aY



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXd7yq7o81I.

The media are encouraged to cover these events. For more information please visit www.harleminparis.com, www.lilsoso.com, or www.francedc.org. For press and sponsorship opportunities please contact Christina Alexander at amplifyimc@gmail.com and Gerald Watson at artvscommerce12@gmail.com, respectively.

# # #

AMPLIFY,iMC is a boutique Communications Agency offering clients expertise in Public Relations; specializing in branding, building market & community awareness, increasing visibility, and special event coordination.