Arts

MetroStage Performs Songs of Freedom from the Underground Railroad at The Lyceum

Courtesy MetroStage

Alexandria, VA – Continuing monthly presentations at The Lyceum, in November MetroStage was proud to present “Songs of Freedom from the Underground Railroad”, performed by Linda Harris, Director of Events and Programs at the Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center in Cambridge, MD. Harris was vocalist and narrator; accompanied by David B. Cole, guitar; Greg Holloway, percussion; Emory Diggs, bass; and Anthony “Swampdog” Clark on harmonica. The program honored the ‘code songs’ used on the clandestine journey along the Underground Railroad by Harriet Tubman and the Freedom Seekers beginning in 1849. Tubman led 13 successful trips on the Underground Railroad, leading 70 men, women, and children to freedom above the Mason-Dixon Line.  The songs that guided the way, Follow the Drinking Gourd, and inspired their treacherous journey, Let My People GoWade in the WaterSwing Low Sweet Chariot, and more were all performed with musicians playing banjo, washboard, harmonica, and bass. A truly inspired evening with audience singing along with some of the most familiar songs.

MetroStage’s next presentation at The Lyceum will feature Charles Williams and his daughter Lynne Ann Williams singing American standards, holiday, gospel and more. Both performed in the theatre’s production of The Fantasticks years ago and have performed worldwide with Lynne residing in Berlin, Germany, full time. This is a mini-reunion of these two fabulous artists several decades later on stage at MetroStage. For more information www.metrostage.org.

ICYMI: ‘Life, Love, Loss, & Everything Else’ Performed at Athenaeum Gallery Saturday November 12th

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