A CELEBRATION OF
CHARLIE “BIRD” PARKER
Series of Events Will Engage Community, Scholars,
Legendary Artists and Historians in Advance of
The New York Premiere of
CHARLIE PARKER’S YARDBIRD
Including
THE SCHOMBURG CENTER FOR
RESEARCH IN BLACK CULTURE SYMPOSIUM
A Free Panel Discussion on the Life and Legacy
Of the Influential Saxophonist
Featuring Jazz Scholars and Artists
Robert O’Meally, Terrance McKnight, Bridgette Wimberly
and Sheila E. Anderson
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
CHARLIE PARKER HARLEM TOUR
Led by Harlem Historian John Reddick
Saturday, March 26, 2016
The APOLLO WALK OF FAME INDUCTION of
Jazz Saxophonist Charlie ―Bird‖ Parker
Ceremony to Include Legendary Saxophonist Jimmy Heath and more
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
The New York Premiere of
CHARLIE PARKER’S YARDBIRD
Friday, April 1, 2016 & Sunday, April 3, 2016
New York, NY, February 29, 2016 – In anticipation of the New York premiere of Charlie
Parker’s YARDBIRD, a co-production between the Apollo Theater and Opera
Philadelphia, the Apollo has announced today that it will offer related cultural events for the
public at the legendary Theater as well as other community institutions. The premiere marks the
Apollo‘s expansion of its programming by introducing opera and is a continuation of the
Theater‘s robust education and community offerings. Activities will include: a free panel
discussion, at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, on Parker‘s music and
legacy featuring jazz scholar and historian Prof. Robert O’Meally of Columbia University;
Terrance McKnight, a host on New York City music station WQXR; poet and playwright
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Bridgette Wimberly, the librettist behind Charlie Parker’s YARDBIRD and the host of
WBGO-FM‘s Weekend Jazz After Hours Shelia E. Anderson, also the host of the annual
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in Harlem (March 15); a Charlie Parker Harlem Tour led by
Harlem historian John Reddick (March 26); the Apollo Walk of Fame induction of the
influential saxophonist with presentations by Parker contemporary, Jimmy Heath and more
(March 30) and a special dress rehearsal of Charlie Parker’s YARDBIRD for community and
education groups. This series of events has been partially underwritten by OPERA America: The
Opera Fund.
―We are so excited to bring YARDBIRD to the Apollo and, leading up to the New York premiere
of the production, we hope that these events will provide context and a fuller picture of the
creative genius that was Charlie ‗Bird‘ Parker and a better understanding of the YARDBIRD
opera. Before people walk through the doors to see the show, we want them to understand the
essence of ‗Bird.‘ From the Walk of Fame induction to the symposium at the Schomburg Center,
each event is designed to celebrate and explore Parker‘s brilliance, his legacy in the jazz
community and his relationship with the Apollo,‖ said Mikki Shepard, the Apollo Theater‘s
Executive Producer. ―Also, through these programs, the Apollo celebrates the importance of its
community - artists, audiences and students. As a cornerstone for the Harlem community, we
always strive to find ways to bring them into dialogue through our artistic programming, and
this celebration of Parker is in line with our mission.‖
Please see below for the full schedule and description of events
Schomburg Center Symposium
Tuesday, March 15, 2016; 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture - 515 Malcolm X Blvd, Harlem, NY 10037
Robert O’Meally, Zora Neale Hurston professor of English and Comparative Literature, and
founder of the Center for Jazz Studies, moderates this panel discussion on the life and legacy of
Charlie Parker. Panelists scheduled to participate include:
Terrance McKnight, the WQXR-FM weekday evening host. He also hosts WQXR‘s All Ears
with Terrance McKnight, a Saturday evening program about musical discovery, which was
honored with an ASCAP Deems Taylor Radio Broadcast Award, in 2010.
Bridgette Wimberly, a librettist, an award-winning poet and author of eight plays who has
been commissioned and produced by several theaters Off-Broadway and across the country,
including Opera Philadelphia (Charlie Parker’s YARDBIRD).
Sheila E. Anderson, host of WBGO-FM‘s Weekend Jazz After Hours, Columbia University
Community Scholar and host of the annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in Harlem.
The evening will also feature a performance by T.K. Blue, composer of Latin Bird, a Latin Jazzthemed Charlie Parker tribute CD. Mr. Blue has performed with many jazz artists including
Dizzy Gillespie, Randy Weston, Pharoah Sanders, Regina Carter, Bobby McFerrin, Dee Dee
Bridgewater, Paquito D‘Rivera and Jimmy Scott.
This event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is strongly suggested. For
registration information visit https://www.apollotheater.org/bird_celebration.
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This event takes place at The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, located at 515
Malcolm X Blvd. between 135th and 136th Streets.
Charlie Parker Harlem Tour
Saturday, March 26, 2016; 12 pm – 2 pm
Led by Harlem historian, lecturer and architect, John Reddick, this historic tour will visit
Harlem landmarks associated with the legendary musician‘s life and career - from Minton‘s
Playhouse, where Parker performed jam sessions early in his career to Abyssinian Baptist
Church where his funeral was held. Other stops will include: the Cecil Hotel, Mt. Morris Park,
Dewey Square Hotel, Dan Wall‘s Chili House, Clark Monroe‘s Uptown House, the Savoy
Ballroom and Small‘s Paradise.
At the height of his talent and popularity, ―Bird‖ as Parker came be known, would perform at
Harlem‘s most distinguished venues including Small‘s Paradise, the Savoy Ballroom and the
world famous Apollo Theater. Harlem also served briefly as Parker‘s home base where he
resided at the Dewey Square Hotel on 117th Street and later, upon his death, Harlem would host
his funeral at Abyssinian Baptist Church with a service officiated by Rev. Adam Clayton Powell,
Jr. Each year since 1993 the community has celebrated his talent, artistry and Harlem
association with the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in Marcus Garvey Park.
This event is free. Limited space. Pre-registration is strongly suggested. For registration
information visit https://www.apollotheater.org/bird_celebration
Apollo Walk of Fame Induction
Wednesday, March 30, 2016; 5 pm – 6:45 pm
Preceding the New York premiere of Charlie Parker‘s YARDBIRD, the Apollo Theater will
celebrate its jazz legacy by inducting the legendary and influential jazz saxophonist, Charlie
“Yardbird” Parker, into the Apollo Walk of Fame. The ceremony in honor of Parker will
include presentations and remarks by Apollo President & CEO, Jonelle Procope; renowned
instrumentalist, composer, arranger and educator Jimmy Heath, who played with Charlie
Parker; Opera Philadelphia President and General Director, David B. Devan and YARDBIRD
star Lawrence Brownlee. Additionally, the Apollo Theater and Opera Philadelphia leadership
will make a major announcement.
The Apollo‘s Walk of Fame honors legendary performers who have helped shape the American
music landscape and built the Apollo into one of the world‘s most enduring cultural institutions.
The plaques will be installed underneath the Apollo‘s marquee on 125th street, alongside
plaques for numerous Apollo legends including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Smokey
Robinson, Michael Jackson, and Patti Labelle, among others.
Parker had a rich history with the Apollo and performed at the Theater many times, beginning
in 1943 with the Earl Hines Orchestra—which included Dizzy Gillespie. During his many
engagements at the Apollo, Parker further developed his bebop style and also experimented with
classical and other musical forms.
The Apollo Theater led the way in introducing a broader audience to bebop when, in 1943,
Theater owner Frank Schiffman booked the experimental bebop band The Earl Hines Orchestra,
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including Little Benny Harris, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie ―Yardbird‖ Parker. Parker and
Gillespie would perform their new style of music at the Apollo as well as at other jazz clubs and
after-hours venues, ushering in a new era that resulted in the transformation of big band swing
to bebop. Parker was widely considered one of the architects of the bebop sound and conducted
bold musical experiments during his engagements at the Apollo. Parker realized a lifelong
dream in 1949 to record with string instruments, and in 1950, the first live performances of his
cutting edge Charlie Parker with Strings—a recording which bridged the gap between jazz and
classical music—was presented at the Apollo.
Charlie Parker’s YARDBIRD Open Dress Rehearsal
Thursday, March 31, 2016; 2 pm – 4 pm
A special dress rehearsal of Charlie Parker’s YARDBIRD for community and education groups.
Charlie Parker’s YARDBIRD (Performances)
Friday, April 1, 2016; 8 pm
Sunday, April 3, 2016; 3 pm
Featuring: Lawrence Brownlee, Angela Brown, Will Liverman, Tamara Mumford,
Rachel Sterrenberg, Chrystal E. Williams, Elena Perroni and the Opera
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Apollo Theater and Opera Philadelphia partner to present Charlie Parker’s YARDBIRD
in its New York premiere. The co-production will mark the first time an opera will be performed
on the Apollo Theater stage, and the first time Opera Philadelphia will play New York.
Set in the famed Birdland jazz club on March 12, 1955, the day Charlie Parker died, the opera
invites audiences directly into the mind and heart of the great saxophonist as he composes his
final masterpiece, and revisits the inspirations and women who fueled his creative genius. The
New York premiere reunites Lawrence Brownlee, the ―energetic, bright-voiced tenor‖ (The
New York Times) in the lead role as the legendary jazz saxophonist—a role crafted around the
effortless, improvisational style that has made him one of opera‘s most sought-after tenors—
with much of the original cast alongside Maestro Corrado Rovaris and the Opera
Philadelphia Orchestra, who performed the work‘s world premiere to five sold-out
audiences in June. Soprano Angela Brown appears as his mother, Addie Parker, and baritone
Will Liverman debuts as jazz icon Dizzy Gillespie. With music by: Daniel Schnyder;
Libretto by: Bridgette A. Wimberly; Director: Ron Daniels; Set Designer: Riccardo
Hernandez; Costume Designer: Emily Rebholz; Lighting Designer: Scott Zielinski.
Tickets for Charlie Parker’s YARDBIRD are $30 - $125. Tickets will be available at The Apollo
Theater Box Office: (212) 531-5305, 253 West 125th Street, and Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000,
www.ticketmaster.com.
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Charlie Parker’s YARDBIRD is sponsored by Merrill Lynch.
Leadership support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation, The
Howard Gilman Foundation, and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Additional support from OPERA America: The Opera Fund, The Fan Fox and Leslie R.
Samuels Foundation, Pat and Al Zollar, and many other generous donors.
The Apollo's 2015-2016 season is made possible by leadership support from Citi, Coca-Cola,
Troy and Keisha Dixon, Ford Foundation, The Howard Gilman Foundation, Robert K. Kraft,
The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, Merrill Lynch, The Parsons Family Foundation, the Ronald
O. Perelman Family Foundation, JoAnn Price, Earl W. and Amanda Stafford, Time Warner
Inc., the Reginald Van Lee Fund for New Works, the Apollo Board of Directors, and many
other generous donors.
#YardbirdApollo
#bebopera
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ABOUT APOLLO THEATER
The legendary Apollo Theater—the soul of American culture—plays a vital role in cultivating
emerging talents and launching legends. Since its founding, the Apollo has served as a center of
innovation and a creative catalyst for Harlem, the city of New York, and the world.
With music at its core, the Apollo‘s programming extends to dance, theater, performance art,
spoken word initiatives, and more. This includes the October 2014 premiere and 2015
international tour of the dance celebration project James Brown: Get on the Good Foot, the
annual Africa Now! Festival, Apollo Club Harlem, and the upcoming New York premiere of the
opera Charlie Parker’s YARDBIRD. The Apollo is a presenting organization that also produces
festivals, large-scale dance and music works organized around a set of core initiatives: Apollo
Music Signature Programs—Amateur Night, Salon Series, Apollo Music Café; Legacy Series—
work that celebrates and extends the Apollo‘s legacy through a contemporary lens; Global
Festivals including the Women of the World (WOW) Festival and Breakin’ Convention,
international and U.S.-based artist presentations focused on a specific theme; and Special
Projects, multidisciplinary work with partner organizations.
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Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo Theater has served as a
testing ground for new artists working across a variety of art forms, and has ushered in the
emergence of many new musical genres—including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul,
and hip-hop. Among the countless legendary performers who launched their careers at the
Apollo are D‘Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Machine Gun Kelly, Miri Ben Ari, D‘Angelo, Ella Fitzgerald,
Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Gladys Knight, Luther
Vandross, and Stevie Wonder; and the Apollo‘s forward-looking artistic vision continues to build
on this legacy.
The Apollo Theater is a not-for-profit organization and currently in the midst of fundraising for
its 21st Century Apollo Campaign, created to extend the institution‘s role in fostering artistic
innovation and in building appreciation of American culture around the world. For more
information, visit www.apollotheater.org.
ABOUT OPERA PHILADELPHIA
Opera Philadelphia is committed to embracing innovation and developing opera for the 21st
century. Described as ―one of the leading instigators of new work in the country‖ by Opera
News, Opera Philadelphia was the only American finalist for the 2015 International Opera
Award for Accessibility, a category that recognizes innovative ideas that broaden access to opera.
The company is charting a bold new path to September 2017, when Opera Philadelphia will open
its 2017-2018 season with an immersive, 12-day festival featuring seven operatic happenings in
six venues throughout the city. The first festival, ―O17,‖ will feature three World Premieres, plus
the exclusive East Coast appearance of Barrie Kosky‘s groundbreaking production of Mozart‘s
The Magic Flute, and a recital by superstar soprano Sondra Radvanovsky. Opera Philadelphia
will continue to present a spring season each year, including three additional productions in
February, March, and April, making it the only U.S. opera company producing an annual opera
season that begins with a dynamic festival. For more information, visit www.operaphila.org.
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CONTACTS
For Apollo Theater
Nina Flowers
212.531.5334
[email protected]
Cynthia Tate
212.531.5340
[email protected]
Isabel Sinistore (Resnicow and Associates)
212.671.5175
[email protected]
Anne Wilson (Resnicow and Associates)
212.671.5163
[email protected]
For Opera Philadelphia
Frank Luzi
215.893.5902
[email protected]
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