The rich cultural contributions of African Americans are celebrated in a series of programs this spring, several of which draw directly from materials in The Huntington’s collections. Join us for these upcoming events:

2008 Program Series at The Huntington

Movie Screening: Cabin in the Sky

Feb. 13, Wed.,  7 p.m.

Free (with registration) 

Join us for a screening of the 1943 MGM musical Cabin in the Sky, starring Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, Ethel Waters, Lena Horne, and Louis Armstrong.  Directed by Vincente Minnelli, this fantasy tale of temptation and redemption was considered a groundbreaking Hollywood production because it featured an all-black cast.

LA Opera Family Program: A Celebration of African American Music

March 2, Sun., 2 p.m.

Members: $12. Adult Non-members: $15.  Children (under 18) free with registration.

Artists from the LA Opera will celebrate the musical contributions of African Americans in this family event that includes performances of music from ragtime to spirituals to opera.

Lecture: Race and Ballet in Postwar Los Angeles

March 19, Wed., 7:30 p.m.

Free (no registration required)

When white choreographer Joseph Rickard formed an all-black ballet troupe in 1946, something new in dance was definitely afoot in Los Angeles. Coming from all walks of life, the dancers worked tirelessly to perfect their technique and to do what had hardly been done in the United States before: create an African American group whose main focus was classical ballet. Kenneth Marcus, associate professor of history and director of the International Studies Institute at the University of La Verne, will discuss the social and political environment of postwar Southern California that was curiously accepting of such an experiment, and why the First Negro Classic Ballet was a pioneer in the field of modern dance.

An Evening with LA Opera: The African American Experience Through Music

March 26, Wed., 7 p.m.

Students free (with registration) Members:  $12. Non-members: $15.

Join us for a stimulating musical experience exploring the amazing and distinctive African American themes in, and contributions to, music in the first half of the 20th century. The program will include a lecture followed by spectacular performances from LA Opera artists.

The Langston Hughes Project: Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz

April 17, Thurs., 7 p.m.

Students free (with registration) Members:  $10. Non-members: $15.

This multimedia event brings the poetry of Langston Hughes to life though a powerful performance of words, images, and music. Featuring a live jazz quartet led by Ronald McCurdy, professor of music at USC, accompanied by a reading of Hughes’ Ask Your Mama.

Register for all events by calling 626-405-2128. Seating is first-come, first-served.  Space is limited.