Kennedy Center Announces Three-Night Amanda Seales Residency

The Kennedy Center will present comedian, writer, and producer Amanda Seales in a three-night, multifaceted residency exploring the intersection of comedy, Hip Hop, and jazz. In this first of its kind residency, Seales has created multi-genre performances that utilizes her witty commentary on culture to entertain and inform audiences.

"Seales is one of the rare artists that comes to the Kennedy Center who can do everything-she can sing, make us laugh, and make us think." said Matthew Winer, Director of Special Projects and Comedy Programming.

In collaboration with composer and pianist Kris Bowers, Seales reinterprets Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) through the lens of jazz. After a successful presentation in 2014, Seales celebrates Wu-Tang's debut album using theatrics, jazz elements, humor, and legendary Wu-isms in MO' BETTA WU.

Seales's live comedy game show experience, Smart Funny & Black, returns to the Center for a special Hip Hop Culture edition. Two guests compete in a head-to-head battle of wits that tests their knowledge of black history, black culture, and the black experience for the chance to be inducted into the "Illustrious League of Master Blacksperts." Previous guests includeTiffany Haddish, Estelle, Bomani Jones, Angela Rye, and more.

"Amanda Seales brings her authentic self to every performance. She is brilliant, fearless, and her reflections on race and culture are a poignant example of why Black women need a seat at every table" said Simone Eccleston, Director of Hip Hop Culture and Contemporary Music. "She has found the perfect balance of insight, truth-telling, and humor that makes her comedy resonate in our current social landscape."

And finally, on the heels of the release of her new HBO stand-up special I Be Knowin', Seales will bring her "blacktastic" brand of comedy as she delivers her hot takes on everything from catcalling, spirituality, what happens when the bra comes off, and more.

Comedian, actress, writer, producer, and more, Amanda Seales doesn't just make you laugh, she makes change! With an uncanny knack for taking serious topics (racism, rape culture, sexism, police brutality, etc.) and with humor, making them relatable and interesting, she combines intellectual wit, silliness, and a pop culture obsession to create her unique style of smart funny content for the stage and screens.

Along with performing stand-up across the globe, and touring colleges doing comedic lectures, this former MTV VJ with a master's in African American studies from Columbia University is a series regular as Tiffany on HBO's Insecure, guest starred on Blackish, released her debut stand up special I Be Knowin' on HBO in January 2019, is the creator/host of the hit live music comedy game show Smart Funny & Black, and speaks truth to change via her wildly popular Instagram and weekly podcast Small Doses, which will have an accompanying book releasing fall 2019 via Abrams Books.

A Jedi Khaleesi with a patronus that's a Black Panther with wings, Amanda Seales continues to keep audiences laughing, thinking, and living in their truth!

Schedule of Events:

Mo' Betta Wu: Jazz from the 36 Chambers

Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater

Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 8 p.m.

Accompanied by a live band and pianist, Kris Bowers, Seales weaves together nuance, classic Wu-Tang references, hit records, and humor to create a unique performance that will intrigue any lover of jazz, invigorate any fan of Hip-Hop, and inspire any supporter of true artistry.

Smart, Funny & Black: Hip Hop Culture Edition

Kennedy Center Concert Hall

Friday, June 7, 2019 at 8 p.m.

Smart, Funny & Black, brings your favorite funny folks to the "Hall of Flava" to compete in a head- to-head battle of wits that test their knowledge of black history, black culture, and the black experience. After a night of fun-as-hell games, flanked by a live band and a "turnt up" audience, each show ends with one guest literally taking the "L"-and the other taking the crown-and being inducted into the "Illustrious League of Master Blacksperts!"

Amanda Seales Presents I Be Knowin'

Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater

Saturday, June 8, 2019 at 8 p.m.

Comedian Amanda Seales presents her hour-long stand-up comedy special, I Be Knowin'. I Be Knowin' premiered January 26, 2019 on HBO and focuses on both heavy and light topics, with Seales using her platform to highlight the importance of blackness in society.

Tickets ($29-$45) are available from the Kennedy Center Box Office, online at www.kennedy-center.org, and by calling (202) 467-4600. Groups of 20 or more may contact the Kennedy Center Group Sales office at (202) 416-8400.

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