DIANE SCHUUR HEADLINES EVER WIDENING CIRCLE BENEFIT IN SAN FRANCISCO

The World Institute on Disability (WID) and the Corporation on Disabilities and Telecommunication (CDT) will present the 6th Annual EVER WIDENING CIRCLE: An Evening of Entertainment Celebrating Art and Disability - featuring an entertaining and diverse assemblage of celebrated performers with disabilities on Wednesday, September 29th at 7:00 pm at the YERBA BUENA CENTER for the ARTS THEATER (700 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA - 415-978 -2787 - http://www.wid.org/ ). Headliner is Diane Schuur, renowned Grammy Award-winning jazz singer and pianist. In addition other performers include Fred Burns, comedian; C.J. Jones, a deaf African American humorist and storyteller; LIGHT MOTION, integrative dance company; and Emiliano Borgois-Chacon, team slam poet. Actor and San Francisco resident DANNY GLOVER is the honorary chair of the event. Tickets are $15 and up. The World Institute on Disability (WID), founded in 1983, is a non-profit public policy center dedicated to promoting independence and full societal inclusion of people with disabilities. Founded in 1982, The Corporation on Disabilities and Telecommunication's (CDT) mission is to promote and support artists, performers and mediamakers with disabilities.

This year's celebrity line-up features our headliner Diane Schuur. Since first stepping onstage to sing at age nine, vocalist Ms. Schuur has earned respect and garnered praise from such legendary musicians as Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie and B.B. King. Stan Getz became one of her biggest fans and an important mentor after hearing her perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1979. Diane has since been nominated for five and received two GRAMMYĆ Awards for "Best Jazz Vocalist," as well as headlined at many of the world's most prestigious music venues, including Carnegie Hall. Diane has recorded 15 CD's, many topping the Billboard chart at #1. Diane's latest Concord Records release, Midnight, is produced by music legends Barry Manilow and Eddie Arkin. (see http://www.dianeschuur.com/ )

LIGHT MOTION is a dance company established in 1988 to develop the artistic expressions of both disabled and non-disabled artists working together to enhance awareness of disability issues through the arts. Director Charlene Curtiss, the disabled performer of the duo, and her partner, Joanne Petroff, have given numerous presentations of integrated dance both nationally and internationally. Performances include the DANCING COAST TO COAST concert in conjunction with the Paralympic Games in Atlanta, GA, and the Gala Performance for the Disabled People International's World Congress meeting in Australia. A third dancer, Debbie Gilbert, will join the duo for this appearance.

C.J. Jones is a humorist, actor, producer, director, motivational speaker, educator and advocate. C.J. has performed on Broadway, traveled the world and appeared on TV shows as diverse as Cold Case and Frasier. He has written and performed throughout the US with two one-man shows, The Living Cartoon: Hot Wired, and WHAT ARE YOU ... DEAF?. Both shows inspiring and hilarious blend of stand-up comedy, mime, storytelling, sign song and audience participation. Having experienced what he calls the "double whammy" of being an actor who is both deaf and black, C.J. vigorously spreads the message that being different does not mean being less worthwhile.

Fred Burns comes on stage with his psychedelic painted crutches. His off-the-wall look at disabilities and today's world in general has kept audiences laughing for over 14 years. Born with Spina Bifida, Fred knows physical difficulties. Fred's comedy began 15 years ago when he was the subject of a documentary called. Fred. The ground-breaking video on disabilities won honors at the First International Disabled Film Festival in Munich, and Fred found himself a cult hero throughout Europe, Japan, and Africa. He still tours the world for screenings. Fred's comedy career now includes club management and stand-up. He won the Grand Prize on the new Extreme Gong Show and was awarded The 1999 Norman Lear Comedy Award which is annually presented to the "Best Comedian with a Disability".

Emiliano Borgois-Chacon is 16 years old and a junior at Lowell High School in San Francisco. He has been attending Youth Speaks poetry workshops, open mics, and performances since 8th grade. Emiliano was born in St. Louis, MO, to a mother from Costa Rica and father from NYC. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of three. He was a finalist at the Youth Speaks Teen Poetry Slam in 2003, made the Bay Area Teen Poetry Slam Team in 2004, and went on to represent the Bay Area at Brave New Voices 2004, the national teen poetry slam held in LA. He has read with such distinguished writers as Dave Eggers and Genny Lim. He is also a member of Spokes, Youth Speaks' own youth board, which publishes teen poetry anthologies, produces CDs, organizes and hosts youth poetry events, and serves as an outreach arm that brings more teens into Youth Speaks.

Braille programs, audio description, sign language interpreting, and wheelchair seating are available. Attendees are requested to refrain from wearing scented products.

 

Back to CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE Home Page

If you would like to receive a free e-mail subscription to CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE, please e-mail cabarethotline@svhamstra.com and place the single word "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line. Note: Your subscription will be sent to the e-mail address you subscribe from - and please include your real name along with the city where you live.

NOW YOU CAN JOIN CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE!