University Daily Kansan / Friday, February 16, 1990 Lifestyle 9 Black performers in the '90s: Breaking stereotype barriers K ance. aren Hutchinson often surprises people the first time she walks into a concert hall to practice before a perform- Hutchinson, with four other Black performing artists, will be at the University of Kansas next week as part of Black History Month celebrations, helping to contribute the contributions of Black composers. Because she is Black, people often expect her to be a singer instead of a classical pianist, she said. Hutchinson said such a salute was important because many people didn't realize that there were Blacks who performed classical music, as well as those who were composers. She also said that people often had stereotypes about what professions minorities were in. sexier." Still said. "When he asked them why, he was told that because it was an ethnic movie, it needed to be sexier. He resigned because he felt the producers were working on stereotypes." Still said that Black stereotypes were not a thing of the past and that she blamed the media for today's negative view of Blacks. Still said she was working to help shatter this negative image by touring the country with her presentation. The University is making an effort to recruit more minority students in the theater and film department. Lewan Alexander, an instructor in theater and film, said he was worried that KU attract minority students and to prepare them for jobs in the professional world. Alexander, who attended KU from 1978 to 1983, said that his goals were to recruit more minority students in the theater department and perform more works by Black playwrights. "We're just not represented in the theater department, and we need to be," Alexander said. "We need to get more minorities here to play, particularly plays by minority writers." Alexander said that although plans for recruiting minorities in the department were still in the formulative stages, the departments had also developed schools and lectures as means for recruitment. Pamela Cook, Green senior, said that although not many plays performed at KU were directed toward Blacks, she had not had trouble getting roles. "I think the directors feel that, if you have the talent you can get a part," said Cook, who KU should be recognized as having a good theater department, which provides more opportunities for minority students. It's all about giving minority students a chance and exposing them to the theater. - Darrin Person Kansas City, Kan., junior Because Blacks are not well known in the classical music field, there is often a reluctance to accept the contributions of the few that are in the field, she said. "I think Blacks are recognized more as sports figures because sports are more popular than classical music." Hutchinson said, adding that she didn't know many minorities who performed classical music professionally. Judith Still, daughter of leading Black composer William Grant Still, said her father encountered trouble the first day he worked on a film score for a large movie studio in the 1930s. has played a Japanese, a Russian and an Indian in different KU productions. "He was in his office working when another studio arranger who was walking down the corridor heard my father's music." Still said. "I don't know," he replied, "a mean writer writes this kind of music?" Still also will be at KU next week to present a slide show about her father's achievements as part of the salute to Black composers. Stephen Byrd, Kansas City, Kan., senior, said he had never run into direct prejudice while a member of the Marching Jayhawks, but he said that there was insensitivity on the floor of the University in helping to reduce minorities, particularly in the performing arts. Still also will be at KU next week to present a slide show about her father's achievements as part of the salute to Black composers. William Still was the first composer hired to write the score for the movie "Stormy Weather," starring Lana Horne, but quit of creative differences with the film makers. "They kept wanting him to write the score Darrin Person, Kansas City, Kan., junior, said that because there were so few minorities in the theater department, it was more likely for a minority student to be approached for a minority production than for a mainstream production. All three of the performing arts students says the University needed to adhere to problematic rules. "If there were more Blacks in the theater department, there would be more opportunities for Blacks in theater productions."4 But the quality of minority productions were independent projects. To quell the frustration of being a minority in the theater department. Person is working as a director and actor for Force. The film, which is in the editing stage, is about promoting diversity at KU. "I'm not going to argue racism, but by expressing that there is racial tension on this campus through the film, we're letting people know we're trying to make the first step toward diversity on campus." Person said. Story by Stephanie Green Art by Gary Chan the School of Fine Arts at KU. "KU should be recognized as having a good theater department, which provides more opportunities for minority students." Person said. "It's all about giving minority students a chance and exposing them to the theater." cultural experiences at K-State. Kansas State University has an all-black theater group called The Ebony Theatre. Angie Smith, a member of the group, said that the group was founded to provide more When people heard that there was a Black theater group on campus, they thought there would be a lot of singing and dancing in it, Smith said. "It's those stereotypes that draw a lot of them to our performances," she said. "Once they get there, we prove them wrong." Alexander said he wan't as interested in starting an all-Black theater company as he was in seeing more minorities performing in works by classical playwrights such as Shakespeare. Sophocles and Moliere. Cook also said she didn't think there should be a white or a Black drama company, but one that features more minorities. "Just a company to bring everyone together and to say we all have a heart and we all have a soul," Cook said. "Inside, we're all the same." NATURAL WAY 820 - 822 Mass St. LiveWire WATCH FOR IT THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN FREQUENT FLYERS Now boarding at Allen Fieldhouse Available Framed At FRAMEWOODS GALLERY 819 Massachusetts 842-4900 Watch for our Jayhawk Nuon Klocks! 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