Ohio Dominican University to Present Welcome Home Marian Anderson

March 14, 2006

COLUMBUS, OHIO-- Ohio Dominican University is pleased to announce the upcoming performance of Welcome Home Marian Anderson on Thursday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the Matesich Theatre located in Erskine Hall. The ODU Men’s quartet will open the performance.

Sponsored by Student Activities, the International Office, and the Black Student Union, admission to the performance is free.

Marian Anderson was the first African-American to debut at the Metropolitan Opera. She is best remembered for her performance in 1939 on Easter Sunday on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. The concert, which commenced with a stirring rendition of America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee), was arranged by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt after the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) banned Anderson from singing in Constitution Hall because of her race. Anderson died in April of 1993.

Vocalist Vanessa Shaw captures Anderson’s music, times and triumphs in this electrifying production of her life. The performance was created by the Samaritan Project Development Corporation and the Friends of Art for Community Enrichment (FACE).

The cast consists of Ivan Thomas, Mark Edward Lang, and Shaw, who also accepts credit as playwright and lyricist.

For more information about the performance, please call the Student Activities Office at (614) 251-4726. Erskine Hall is located on ODU’s main campus, 1216 Sunbury Road. Parking is available in the Visitors Lots directly west of Sunbury Road.