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"You were superb!...The voice of Dunbar!    
             Professor Nikki Giovanni, @ Virginia Tech, Award winning Poet & Author


"Regional theater eager to explore spoken word performances should engage Oni Lasana for this highly theatrical form."

                      Mary Elizabeth Scallon, Peoples Light & Theatre Co., Malvern, PA


Enjoy viewing this sit down delivery of 

"Oni Lasana Doin' Dunbar as 'Lias' Mother"

When Malindy Sings by Paul Laurence Dunbar






















"Many hearts were touched by your rendition of 'Lias' Mother."

                Debbie Allen, Actress, Director & Co-producer of Amistad, LA, California


"I felt like I was in the cabin with you."

                                  Audience member at African American Museum, Philadelphia

 

"A MUST SEE!...Moving, enriching and a great addition to any college campus program...call her now!"

                   Kim Poast, Community College of Denver, Woman Of Color Conference


'LIAS' MOTHER, The Performance


        Is a heartfelt portrayal of a woman living in America during the Civil War. 'Lias'(Elias) is a character from Dunbar's poem "In The Morning".  As the mother of  'Lias, this one-woman educational and entertaining program features Dunbar's African-American southern dialect poems, connected by Lasana's engaging monologue.

        This theatrical and educational treat invites the audience to participate with every 'Lias' Oni discovers and brings into her world. Oni directly engages the audience, bringing out the best in her co-actor, be they a youngin's or an elder.

       "Oni Lasana Doin' Dunbar as Lias' Mother"  offers a personal view of a woman's life during the 1800's in America. This performance is delivered in a highly inter-active storytelling style, capturing the realities of American History.

        'Lias' Mother speaks directly to the audience about her life with friends and family.  Set on a plantation in Cross, South Carolina, the home of Oni's paternal grand-mother. Presented in authentic costume, 'Lias' Mother" is unique in pathos and humor.

     The finale of Oni Lasana Doin' Dunbar as 'Lias' Mother, culminates in a audience "rap-along" of Dunbar's most beloved standard english poem, Sympathy aka I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. Arranged by Oni to the music of Timberland, she gives Dunbar's timeless poetry a modern twist. 
   
     In a LITERARY SALON setting "Music Of The Heart" features a variety of world music floating underneath Dunbar's poetry.  W.C. Handy - Stevie Wonder  Jay Unger - Dean Fraser - Timberland - West Nkosi - Mark O'Connor - Najee & Peter White's musical arrangements are set to Dunbar's dialect and standard poems. Oni tells the back story of each poem and on Dunbar's life as a poet.   

          Oni Lasana Productions offers an unforgettable human experience 

           in American History, Language Arts, Music, Folklore and Theater.


"Where yesterday meets today for audiences of tomorrow!"


 * REPERTOIRE *


In The Morning * Possum * A Preference * When De Corn Pone's Hot 

 De Way T'ings Come * Keep A 'Pluggin' Away * A Coquette Conquered

 My Sort O'Man * When Dey 'Listed Colored Soldiers * Whistlin' Sam

 When Malindy Sings * Philosophy * Angelina * De Critters' Dance

 An Ante-Bellum Sermon * The Party and mo'



Oni Lasana Productions also offers "'Lias' Mother"  in a celebration 

of freedom in this program: 


ALWAYS FREE! A Juneteenth Celebration


This theatrical storytelling program tells of 'Lias' Mother's

 freedom from slavery.  She shares stories & songs of her journey to the north, after the "surrender" aka Emancipation Proclamation.   

 

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS  

 

PHILADELPHIA FBI - Black History Program

PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART - Literary Salon

DUNBAR HOUSE MUSEUM, Dayton, Ohio

CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE, West Chester PA

CALN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Caln, PA - Theater

CIVIL WAR CONVOCATION, Tom's River, New Jersey

CIVIL WAR REENACTOR'S WEEKEND, Pennypacker Park, PA

WEST CHESTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY & MUSEUM, West Chester:

Harriet Tubman & Sojourner Truth

AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF PHILADELPHIA - Theater

DEBBIE ALLEN DANCE STUDIO, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - Theater

PEOPLE'S LIGHT & THEATER COMPANY, Malvern PA


VIRGINIA TECH, VA

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, PA

CHEYNEY UNIVERSITY, PA

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA

EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY, PA

COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER, COLORADO,

Woman Of Color In Higher Education Conference

 

FEATURED STORYTELLER (Doin' Dunbar as 'Lias' Mother)

 

PATCHWORK STORYTELLING GUILD ~ Tellabration

LEHIGH VALLEY STORYTELLING GUILD ~ Tellabration

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK STORYTELLERS, INC., Cincinnati, Ohio

COURTLAND SERVICES, Phila.

THE HICKMAN, West Chester, PA

FREEDOM VILLAGE, Senior Living, Caln, PA

GERMANTOWN HOME, Philadelphia

COATESVILLE SENIOR CENTER. PA

DOWNINGTOWN SENIOR CENTER, PA

KENNETT SQUARE SENIOR CENTER, PA

CALN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Pennsylvania

MAPLEWOOD MANOR, Philadelphia

SENIOR LIVING CENTER @ HAVERFORD ESTATES, Haverford, PA 

Many Senior Community Center's & Residencies via ART-REACH, Inc.  

 

DODD AMERICAN SCHOOLS in Germany: HEIDELBERG - WUERZBERG - RAMSTEIN - KAUSERSLAUTERN - AMBERG

 

AMY RUTH'S RESTAURANT - HARLEM, NY - Opening for actress RUBY DEE

LEHIGH VALLEY STORYTELLING FESTIVAL, PA

MONTGOMERY COUNTY CULTURAL CENTER, NORRISTOWN PA

TOBAGO HERITAGE FESTIVAL, Shaw Park, Tobago, Caribbean

BUCKINGHAM HISTORICAL FESTIVAL, Hansel Park, Bucks County, PA

COATESVILLE CULTURAL SOCIETY, PA

MONTGOMERY COUNTY CULTURAL CENTER THEATER

AMERICAN ASSOC. OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN, LANSDALE, PA DOWNINGTOWN WOMAN'S CIVIC CLUB

AMERICAN ASSOC.OF RETIRED PERSONS

 

MISSISSIPPI, INDIANOLA SCHOOL DISTRICT : w/Diane Williams,

The Storyteller in "Two Sister's Journey"

DOWNINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL ~Humanitarian Day Residency & Workshop

DOWNINGTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL ~  Theater Dept. Performance & Workshop

REECEVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Coateville, PA : Granny Goose

CALN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Coatesville, PA : Granny Goose

OCTARARA MIDDLE SCHOOL, Coatesville, PA

PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - Phila. Assembly & Bro. Dunbar Performance Workshop: Grades 1-5th 

ADAIRE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Phila.: Assembly & Bro Dunbar Workshop

DUCKREY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Phila. : Assembly & Bro. Dunbar Workshop

BUCKS COUNTY FREE LIBRARY, PA - Langhorne - Levittown - Perkasie  


ALL BRANCHES OF THE FREE LIBRARY'S OF PHILADELPHIA

 

A Letter of Recommendation from The Philadelphia School District Board

 of Education African-American Studies Department can be read in

 "Comments & Recommendations"

 

  PROGRAM LENGTH AVAILABLE FROM 30 to 90 MINUTES

 

SUITABLE FOR FAMILY GATHERINGS & ORGANIZATIONS

 

 * TO LISTEN OR ORDER THE 'LIAS' MOTHER CD

 Visit CD page!






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