FORT PIERCE - Nationally-known scholars and researchers on the late Harlem Renaissance author Zora Neale Hurston, an encore presentation of "Zora! The Documentary" and a performance of a Zora drama will be among the many events and featured presentations of Zora Fest '08, The Harlem Renaissance.
The 4th annual festival is scheduled for Saturday, March 29 from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. at Lincoln Park Academy in Fort Pierce. Pre-festival events and a post-festival author's brunch will be at several other venues in St. Lucie County. The festival itself is free and open to the public. Yet some events associated with the festival do have admission fees.
Kicking off a week of activities is a Treasure Coast High School performance of Hurston's "Jump at de Sun" drama presentation. The event is Friday, March 21 at 7 p.m. at the high school on Darwin Boulevard in Port St. Lucie. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students.
An encore presentation of the play will be presented as the closing performance of Zora Fest! on Saturday, March 29 at 6 p.m. at the Lincoln Park Academy Auditorium on Avenue I in Fort Pierce.
"Jump at de Sun" was Zora's mother's advice to her to try better and work toward new things, something she did most of her life, according to biographical writings on the Queen of the Harlem Renaissance.
On Wednesday, March 26 at 5 p.m., Women with Words will conduct a book review of Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God" with Alice Walker's "Color Purple." The program at the Fort Pierce Yacht Club is free and open to the public.
The Florida Humanities Council will present "Voices of the Harlem Renaissance" on Friday, March 28 at 7 p.m. at the Police Athletic Center on North Second Street in downtown Fort Pierce.
The Voices program is a dramatization of the friendship between Hurston, poet Langston Hughes and attorney James Weldon Johnson. Actress Phyllis McEwen, known for her dramatization of Zora, and actors LeRoy Mitchell as Johnson and Bob Devin Jones as Hughes will discuss the relationship between the three noted literary figures of the Harlem Renaissance.
On festival day, Saturday, March 29, noted authors Lucy Hurston, Valerie Boyd and Dr. Debra Plant will discuss Hurston's literary achievements, particularly related to the Harlem Renaissance period when black writers, musicians, actors, and educators were part of what was known as the New Negro Movement.
Hurston, niece of Zora Neale Hurston, Boyd, noted Hurston biographer and Dr. Plant, an educator in African-American studies and author of a new Hurston book, will discuss their works and Hurston's involvement in the Harlem Renaissance. Lucy Hurston is also scheduled to read a book to young students during the festival.
Visiting Zora Fest! for the first time is Dr. Adeike Marie Davidson of Fisk University, who will present "Understanding the Harlem Renaissance / New Negro Movement."
Other festival activities include guided tours on the Hurston Dust Tracks Heritage Trail which includes stops at her former home and gravesite, a children's program by African-American storyteller Madafo, a distribution of free children's books, and music by Fort Pierce's own Ossie Wright and his band.
On Sunday, March 30, the Cultural Affairs Council will host a brunch at the Pelican Yacht Club in Fort Pierce. During the author's brunch, Lucy Hurston will discuss her aunt's life and new research. The luncheon is $40 per person and includes a ticket to the encore presentation of "Zora! The Documentary," a film written and produced by the St. Lucie County Film Society.
The film will be shown at 3 p.m. at the Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children and proceeds will benefit the Film Society
Vendor booths are still available at the festival. Fees are $50 for food booths, $25 for arts, crafts and clothing booths and for $10 non-profit organizations.
For information, please contact the St. Lucie County Cultural Affairs Council at (772) 462-1767 or visit www.zorafest.com.
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