TOWSON STATE UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION presents Maya Angelou
Sunday, December 2
Maya Angelou is a lady of many talents. She has been a singer, educator, dancer, author, historian, lecturer, actress, producer, editor, songwriter, and playwright.
She began writing poetry at age 15. Determined to carve out a stage career for herself, she studied dance and drama at night while working at a variety of jobs.
In 1952 she received a scholarship to study dance with Pearl Primus in New York. Two years later she made her first professional appearance as a singer at the Purple Onion in San Francisco. She then joined the European touring company of "Porgy and Bess" sponsored by the U.S. State Department. She sang the role of Ruby. Between tours she taught modern dance at the Rome Opera House and conducted classes in modern dance technique in the Habima theatre in Tel Aviv. Ms. Angelou lived in Africa for a time where she served as the associate editor of The Arab Observer in Cairo, the only English language news weekly in the Middle East. She also wrote freelance articles during this time and served as the assistant administrator of the School of Music and Drama in the University of Ghana.
She is the author of eight books published by Random House. They are I KNow Why the Caged Bird Sings, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie, Gather Together in My Name, Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well, Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas, And Still I Rise, The Heart of a Woman, and Shaker, Why Don't You Sing?
Ms. Angelou was writer-produced for 20th-Century Fox TV where she produced "Sisters, Sisters." Her book, an autobiographical account of her youth, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, was aired as a two-hour TV special in 1979. SHe was the author and producer for a five-part miniseries for CBS "Three Way Choice." She hosted a study course "Humanities Through the Arts for PBS. In 1977 she received the Golden Eagle Award for her PBS documentary Afro-American in the Arts.
In 1976 she was accorded the Ladies Home Journal "Woman of the Year in Communication" award. She has also been recognized as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential Women" by Ladies Home Journal. She served on the Presidential Commission for International Women's Year in 1978-79.
She is currently working on a musical "And Still I Rise" for which she is librettist, lyricist and composer.
The Student Government Association is also sponsoring a speaker series during the 1984-85 year. Coming up:
Alan Dershowitz, professor of law at Harvard University Law School, Sunday, March 3. Mr. Dershowitz is a frequent commentator on ABC's Nightline.
William F. Buckley will meet George McGovern in debate on Wednesday, April 3. Mr. Buckley, author, editor, and host of Firing Line, seen weekly on PBS television stations, is considered to be the chief spokesperson for conservative causes in the country. George McGovern, former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate, on the other hand, has often served as chief spokesperson for liberal causes in the country.
For ticket information, call 321-3295.
