By Mark F. Gray
Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) is set to cut the ribbon on the centerpiece when the Center for the Performing Arts opens to the public on Sept. 26. The grand opening is a weekend long event featuring performances and shows at the Largo campus.
PGCC is upgrading its facilities to attract and retain a diversified student body through graduation. The new Queen Anne Building will be the academic hub for the humanities program and will feature three theatres, a broadcast studio, radio station, and a recital hall. Theater, dance, and mass communications majors will call this building ‘home’ for the next four years.
Plans also call for the Center for Performing Arts Grand Theatre to become a venue that hosts contemporary entertainment and community events. Local fans will have an opportunity to view the venue during comedy shows, blues and jazz concerts.
After the official “ribbon cutting” ceremony on Sept. 26, PGCC presents comedians Nate Jackson, Rip Michaels, and Jeremy Alsop for a night of laughter in the Proscenium Theatre. These nationally acclaimed comedians have appeared on a variety of hit shows, including MTV’s “Wild N’ Out,” BET’s “Comic View,” and Comedy Central’s “Laugh Out Loud.” They have also opened for comedic stars, including Dave Chappelle, Damon Wayans, and Jay Pharoah.
On Sept. 28, PGCC continues the tradition of the blues during the 24th Annual Bluebird Blues Festival. The Bluebird Blues Festival has been a staple in the Prince George’s County community for nearly a quarter of a century. With a new state of the art venue, it is being touted as back and bigger than ever before. This year’s festival will feature eight bands, workshops, kids’ activities, food trucks, craft vendors, beer, and wine.
PGCC will also serve as the site for the Xfinity presents “1 VOICE Regional Gospel Showcase.” Five choirs and praise team finalists from the Washington region will perform live for an evening co-hosted by NBC 4 Reporter Shomari Stone. This year’s showcase features Gospel Icon Dr. Bobby Jones and Praise 104.1FM’s Cheryl Jackson with performances by celebrity judge and noted gospel songstress Kierra Sheard, Grammy-nominated 1 VOICE Musical Director Tim Bowman, Jr., and his house band. Multi-award-winning gospel icon Fred Hammond has been added as a late addition to serve as a celebrity judge.
On Sept. 29, the weekend concludes in partnership with Lake Arbor Jazz. Avery Sunshine and Chelsey Green and the Green Project will perform in the Center for Performing Arts Grand Theatre. The evening begins with a pre-concert reception at 6p.m. and the show starts at 7:30p.m.
This article originally appeared in The Afro.
