Queens Theatre in the Park Presents A Free Concert By Jubilation Choir 4/11

Queens Theatre in the Park (QTP) presents the Jubilation Choir on Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 4pm in the Claire Shulman Playhouse Main Stage Theatre at Queens Theatre in the Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, NY. Tickets are free. Reservations required by phone at 718-760-0064. Jubilation Choir is part of the American Express Cultural Heritage Series.

Jubilation Choir presents a free concert on April 11, 2010, sharing with us a wide range of music, including hymns, spirituals, anthems, and gospel numbers. Reverend Stefanie R. Minatee and Jubilation are winners of a 2010 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Gospel Album, and were nominated for the Dove Award for Best Traditional Gospel Song, for singing with Queen Latifah on the compilation CD, Oh Happy Day. Their new album It's Just Church is scheduled to be released in the fall of 2010. Singers in the choir range from age 25-90, and the group comes equipped with up to 100 voices to share praise, worship and traditional African American music with the borough of Queens and the Queens Theatre in the Park.

About Jubilation Choir
Jubilation Choir is a culturally mixed aggregation of auditioned voices committed to singing African American sacred music with an emphasis on Gospel music. The choir's primary focus is preserving the history and legacy of this genre. Established in October 1998 under the auspices of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ, members of Jubilation hail from 28 cities/townships throughout the state. While most members are volunteers, professional singers are in the midst, all committed to ministry through song and praise. In 2007 the New Jersey Performing Arts Center became Jubilation's "official home". The name, Voices of Jubilation, was borne out of the NJPAC Jubilation Choir. Under this name, opportunities outside of NJPAC were established. As the Voices of Jubilation, the choir gained international acclaim, touring Japan in July 2002 and 2004, where they ministered through song in several cities. The choir also participated at the 2002 US Open Tennis tournament and had the honor of singing at the funeral of Jazz Great Lionel Hampton. In the same year, Jubilation recorded "live" with the musical genius, Ray Charles. This DVD project, Ray Charles Celebrates a Gospel Christmas with the Voices of Jubilation, was originally released in November 2003. A Deluxe Edition CD/DVD released in Winter 2004, climbed to # 2 on the BILLBOARD Gospel Charts. In January 2004, Jubilation became an independent entity. Their CD, The Launch OutProject, was released October 10, 2006; a selection from the project garnered Nancey Jackson-Johnson a nomination for "Best Traditional Female Vocalist" at the 2009 Stellar Awards. Reverend Stefanie R. Minatee and Jubilation participated on the EMI compilation CD, Oh Happy Day, singing the title track with Queen Latifah. The CD won a GRAMMY Award, (Best Traditional Gospel Album) in February 2010. In addition, Oh Happy Day, was nominated for the coveted DOVE Award in the category "Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year." Members of Jubilation participated in Super Bowl XLIV, held in Miami Florida on February 7, 2010, providing background vocals for Queen Latifah. The choir now concentrates on their new CD, It's Just Church. The explosive new single "I'm Still Standing", composed by Gospel music ICON A. Jeffrey LaValley, is also set for release in 2010. Jubilation has shared the stage in collaboration with the late Isaac Hayes, the late Ray Charles, Queen Latifah, Kenny Loggins, Sam Harris, Jenny Burton, and a number of renowned Gospel Music artists. The choir has also performed on the Bobby Jones Gospel television show, at the New Jersey State House and Governor's Mansion. In addition to Japan, members of Jubilation have traveled to Moscow Russia as music ambassadors.

Tickets are available:
* Online at www.queenstheatre.org.
*By phone at 718-760-0064, Tue-Sat, 12-6pm.
* In person at Queens Theatre in the Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, NY.

Queens Theatre in the Park is located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, NY.
By Subway:Take the 7 train to Mets-Willets Point stop. Exit and turn left after passing through turnstile, walk downstairs on the parking lot side and follow the theatre shuttle signs. Take free trolley to the Theatre. Trolley runs for one hour before and after all performances.
By Car:Take the Grand Central Parkway to exit 9E (from Manhattan) or 9P (from Long Island) and follow the signs for the Theatre. Free parking in adjacent lot.

About Queens Theatre in the Park
Queens Theatre in the Park is committed to presenting performing arts that provide audiences with the highest quality work. QTP also produces new plays, with a concentration on up-and-coming directors and playwrights. QTP has broadened the experience of its core audience to include works by under-recognized artists from around the world and works that tap into the diverse communities of Queens.

Queens Theatre in the Park is located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in the New York State Pavilion designed for the 1964 World's Fair by Philip Johnson. The Pavilion was converted to a theatre in 1972 and was operated by various organizations until 1985. QTP was officially established in 1989 with the full support of the community and the Queens Borough President. After a $4 million renovation that brought full ADA compliance, the Theatre officially opened to the public in 1993 in a facility that allows it to stage productions equal to those of any Off-Broadway house in Manhattan in its 464-seat main stage theatre and its 99-seat Studio Theatre. What was then a small cabaret-style theater with an operating budget of under $500,000 has transformed itself into a major performing arts center with exhibition galleries with a projected operating budget of $3.5 million for FY10.

QTP became an independent nonprofit in 1997. It is a member of the Cultural Institutions Group receiving support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. The Theatre presents and produces 300 performances annually. QTP serves 100,000 people annually who reflect the rich demographics of its community population. Currently 75% of the Theatre's constituency is from Queens. In addition to its own season, QTP frequently provides its space for use by community arts organizations and local promoters.

QTP has recently completed a $ 23 million physical transformation of the Theatre. This major capital investment has added a 75-seat cabaret performance space with a full service cafe and kitchen facility; created a dramatic new 3,000 square foot lobby/reception area; provided new visitor amenities and improved the facility's accessibility. These improvements have transformed Queens Theatre in the Park into a destination for the residents of the borough and beyond.

Queens Theatre in the Park events are made possible with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Funding is provided by The Harkness Foundation for Dance, Jerome Robbins Foundation, the Mertz Gilmore Foundation and the New York Community Trust/Lila Acheson Wallace Fund for the Arts.

Jubilation Choir is part of the American Express Cultural Heritage Series.

The Media Sponsor for Jubilation Choir is Time Warner Cable.

For more information, visit www.queenstheatre.org.

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