Manual Cinema: No Blue Memories—The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks
The humble overhead projector becomes a tool for movie-like magic in the hands of the performance collective Manual Cinema. Using handmade shadow puppets, immersive audio, live video feeds, and a lot of ingenuity, this award-winning troupe breathes life and dimension into their imaginative productions. No Blue Memories—The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks tells the story of one of Chicago’s most beloved figures. Brooks was a civil rights icon, an Illinois poet laureate, and the first African-American Pulitzer Prize winner as well as a treasured educator and mentor. Her legacy lives on at the University of Illinois, where her papers are held at the Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
In Manual Cinema’s contemporary, theatrical rendering, scripted by Eve L. Ewing and Nate Marshall and commissioned by the Poetry Foundation, striking visuals combine with poetry, storytelling, and original, live music by Jamila Woods and Ayanna Woods for an inspiring tale of identity, politics, and one of the most remarkable American literary careers.
Recommended for ages 10 and up
Join us at the Rare Book & Manuscript Library at 4pm on Wednesday, November 28 for a behind-the-scenes lecture and reception with the actors from Manual Cinema: No Blue Memories—The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks. For more information, visit the event page.
Guests are invited to join Krannert Center in helping children stay warm this winter. Bring new or gently used coats, mittens, gloves, hats, scarves, and ear muffs for this season's clothing drive. This year, there is a special need for coats for middle school boys in sizes Boy's XL and Men's S, M, and L. All collected items will go to the Champaign Unit 4 School District and Urbana School District 116. Donation boxes will be available in the lobby near Intermezzo cafe.
