Antonia Badon to Star in ZORA At American Theatre of Actors

Antonia Badon embodies one of the most vital and influencial African American woman artists of the 20th -- and 21st Century. Often quoted by Barack Obama and Oprah, this is the story of ZORA. October 14 -- 20 at the American Theatre of Actors 314 W. 54th St. New York City.

Zora Neale Hurston's Iconic Journey Unfolds in Compelling One-Woman Play: "Zora!
The essence of Zora Neale Hurston, one of the most influential figures of the Harlem Renaissance, comes vibrantly to life in "Zora! A Play by Laurence Holder directed by Greg Freelon and starring Antoniá Badón, promises an unforgettable theatrical experience, tracing the remarkable life and times of the legendary Zora Neale Hurston.

Set against the backdrop of 1920s Harlem, "Zora!" invites audiences on an enthralling journey through the pivotal moments that shaped Hurston's extraordinary legacy and much of Black history in the 20th century.

Antonia & Zora: NAACP winner, New Orleans-actress' Antoniá Badón-unique adaptation (one-woman biography) transcends time and place in 19 character portrayals, 15 wardrobe changes, 15 authentic voices and 15 music transitions all in 1 hour and 40 minutes for a moment in time allowing the audience to witness a sneak preview of the extraordinary dramatic transformation and portrayal of the famous Hurston in, Zora! A play by Laurence Holder. Zora in Harlem ignites the spirit of Zora's adventurous energy while preparing students, theater enthusiasts, Zora followers and world travelers to trace the roots to the famous era. The one-woman play captures the story of birth of the roaring 1920's Harlem Renaissance and the life & times of Zora Neale he play takes you on a journey of a small town southern girl who longed to go to school and embraced her financial disparities by enrolling in high school with one change of underwear, one dress, and one pair of shoes. January 1925, with $1.50 in her purse and a dream, Zora moved to Harlem and became the first black woman to study at Barnard/Columbia University, rose to fame as a writer, helped pioneer the Harlem Renaissance literary movement, secured a Guggenheim Fellowship Award to study in Haiti, Jamaica and throughout the gulf coast and ultimately became one of the world's greatest literary geniuses. Often labeled as one of the most gifted and prolific artists of the New Negro Movement, later to be known as the Harlem Renaissance. Zora Neale Hurston emerged from a small town in Eatonville, Florida. Through the many stages of her life, not bounded by limitations, the scenes in this 19-character portrayal of her life in Zora, takes place amidst a backdrop that symbolizes the dynamics in which legends are made. This play evokes the pilgrimage of one of the most interesting black woman as well as refreshes through the authors memories one of the most enlightening eras of our time. The scene opens with a young woman resembling a child who hasn't quite overcome adolescence, but who develops a keen interest to attain an education in lieu of the racial disparities that plagued African Americans. All of the factors contributing to the fourteen year old character of Zora allude to her having a tumultuous childhood and relying on those instances to design her future. Working odd and end jobs to finance her move and education, it is now revealed that this small time girl from Florida would soon become a trailblazer on the campus of Howard University. This being one of her depots for the development of her dreams, Zora quickly realizes her calling and began to work on her craft by writing articles and essays that depicted Negro life. At a time when her peers were writing about racism and what the patron's wanted them to write, Zora wrote what she was most proud of and that was being black. Recognizing her zest and unique insight for life, Zora was summoned to Barnard University where she meets a Professor Boaz, who intrigued her interest in African-American Anthropology. With the gift of story-telling and the ability to soar beyond the highest of heights, ZORA reached her apex and discovered her potential as an anthropologist, essayist and contributor to various projects with her "colored" contemporaries Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, Wallace Thurman, Alain Locke, Dubois and Garvey.

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