Congo Square Theatre Company presents A NATIVITY TRIBUTE in partnership with Studio One Dance Company at the DuSable Museum. Congo Square has been presenting the holiday classic Nativity since 2004 and it has been enjoyed by more than 15,000 individuals having become a beloved holiday tradition for many Chicago residents. Audiences are uplifted by the combination of traditional gospel music and original songs by composer Jaret Landon in the retelling of this 2000-year-old story. The masterful music and choreography combined with spectacular African inspired costuming has been delighting Congo Square patrons for more than 10 years. The Nativity is a unique production in showcasing artistry from several disciplines while highlighting African American history and culture.
In the past, the Nativity had been offered in partnership with the Goodman Theatre, the flagship of Chicago theaters in the heart of the theater district. However, through the collaborative efforts of Congo Square and partner organization, Studio One Dance, Congo Square plans to ensure Nativity remains part of the cultural landscape, offering a limited engagement of a musical concert tribute to its annual holiday production at DuSable Museum. Moving the production to DuSable Museum, Congo Square will serve members of the surrounding communities that have limited access to arts and culture in their immediate area while eliminating the additional expense of parking and or dining downtown making attendance to the performance much more accessible to patrons with limited financial resources.
Executive director TaRon Patton has adapted all four versions of the previous productions into a musical revue highlighting all the favorite artists, music and dance. This is the second community driven initiative for Congo Square surrounding the Nativity. In 2012, Congo Square partnered with Trinity United Church of Christ to produce this holiday favorite in Englewood at Kennedy King College. TaRon states, “I think it’s important that we partner with organizations that are invested in the communities that we serve. Studio One Dance has been a pillar of excellence in dance for over 10 years, and it is important that our young people see themselves onstage being successful in entertainment. Especially today, with all the youth violence and being portrayed in the media.”
