HARRISBURG, Pa. — Performance is one of the best forms of self-expression and one Harrisburg woman is doing exactly that with some thought-provoking theater.
The goal of the Sankofa African American Theatre Company is to honor and tell African American stories all year long.
"Sankofa was founded about seven years ago," explained Sharia Benn, the executive artistic director and co-founder of the theatre. "I came to Harrisburg from Baltimore and found that there wasn't a lot of theatre for me to be a part of as an actor and stories that were being told that I really could identify with. There was a gap."
Today, Sanfoka offers workshops for organizations on equity, diversity and inclusion. The theatre strives to provide a safe space for critical conversation about race to create lasting social change.
February's production will be "The Jackson Rooming House: Music's Resting Place." It's an original play, written by Benn and Clark Nicholson that follows a group of young friends on a journey of musical exploration and personal self-discovery. The show focuses on the local Jackson Rooming House/Hotel from the 1920s-60s, which was created for Black musicians during the Jim Crow period.
"Just around here, where I live, you don't learn a lot about Black history in general," said Kennedy Commissiong, who plays Shayla in the play. "The fact that there's something so close to home that has history, it's really new to me."
"This play is driven by the story of Black music and its impact on culture. By seeing this, you'll really understand the origins of that music. The origins of why it sounds that way and why we celebrate and sing and dance the way that we do," explained cast member Trystin Bailey, who plays German Jackson.
The theatre uplifts Black voices and works right here in central Pennsylvania.
"We do stories written by African-American playwrights because there's a rich canon there," said Benn. "I was motivated to tell these stories on stage, in a way that we can control the narrative and talk about the rich history and the joy and the deepness, and it connects our community."
"To know the history of America is to know Black history," added Bailey. "If you only know one lane, one aspect, you're not getting the whole story and you don't really understand the story that we all share."
The "The Jackson Rooming House: Music's Resting Place" will be featured at the Gamut Theatre in Harrisburg until February 25. Shows will be performed on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased here. They are "pick your price" which allows viewers to choose the best ticket price for their budget. The recommended price is $39 but discounted prices range from $27 to $15.