Performance: Americas3
- Event Date: Thursday, November 1, 2018
- Time: 7:00 pm–9:00 pm (CDT)
- Location: Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory St., Urbana, IL
- Cost: Free Admission
Americas3 is a program in 8 languages performed by artists from North, Central, and South America. The performance paints a multilingual, intercultural, and international portrait of what it means to be American. At the same time, it is a personal portrait: the Native American, African, and European currents that 500 years ago became the foundation for what contemporary Americans have become are embodied in the lead singers of Americas3.
Americas3 showcases diversity coupled with commonality. It presents a gallery of musical and literary snapshots as it takes audiences on a symbolic journey of universally shared experiences: migration, suffering, work, love, sense of place, and celebration. It is a production that purposefully mixes internationally known covers with lesser known traditional songs, as well as original compositions.
In Americas3, salsa and rock and roll classics meet a traditional Lakota lullaby and a cowboy tune from Venezuela; Maya Angelou's poetry meets personal narratives; and musical virtuosity meets theatrical expression. It is a production that somewhat favors compositions written by women or made famous by women, yet welcomes all genders and is meant for all ages.
Sponsors: University YMCA; The Spurlock Museum; The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Additional Co-Sponsors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign include Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies; La Casa Cultural Latinal; Krannert Center for the Performing Arts; Center for African-American Studies; Center for African Studies; School of Social Work; Department of Human Development and Family Studies; and the Portuguese Language Department.
Community Co-Sponsors include: Illinois Public Media — WILL radio.tv.online; Independent Media Center; Channing-Murray Foundation; Friends Meeting Foundation; Champaign Church of the Brethre, Social Action committee Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign, First Mennonite Church of Champaign-Urbana; Unity Church and Spiritual Center (SORF and SPCF funding applied for through Registered Student Organization Ballet Folklorico Mitotiana).