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Written by doDetroit Staff
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GRAMMY, Tony, Emmy, and Webby award-winning/nominated songwriter, artist, multimediaist, director, collector, party thrower—and native Detroiter—returns to her hometown for a special benefit event at the historic and fabulous Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit.
An alumna of Mumford High School, Willis will lead the school’s marching band through a medley of her hit songs in the lobby of the Fox. The Saturday, April 9 event takes place during a weekend run of The Color Purple at the theater, and cast members from the touring company of the Broadway smash—of which Allee is a co-author—will join in for a celebratory sing-along. Event will go toward new band uniforms.
The Allee Willis-composed songs comprising the medley—to be played first instrumentally by the marching band, and then with TCP company members singing along—are: “September,” “Boogie Wonderland,” “In The Stone,” (all major hits for Earth, Wind, & Fire), “I’ll Be There For You” (Theme from Friends),” “The Color Purple,” “Stir It Up” (Patti LaBelle), and “Neutron Dance” (the Pointer Sisters). The last two songs connect Allee to Mumford beyond her having gone there—they’re featured in Beverly Hills Cop, and on the soundtrack, which won Allee a GRAMMY. The film, produced by fellow Mumford alum Jerry Bruckheimer, made the school famous when Eddie Murphy wore a Mumford t-shirt throughout.
Allee was inspired to work with the Mumford High marching band after being invited to conduct the 350-piece marching band at her collegiate alma mater, University of Wisconsin, for the halftime show at the 2010 Homecoming football game. “Allee Willis Marches on Detroit” is a dream come true for Allee, connecting her songs and The Color Purple to Mumford and her beloved hometown of Detroit—all in the city’s most famous venue. She also looks forward to working with Mumford students on an ongoing basis. And, this project builds on work Allee started doing with the school in 2008, when she was on a national radio broadcast as Mumford became the first school in the country to receive 400 hours of historic audio tapes related to African-American history that she helped to restore with Pacifica Radio Archives.
Tickets are $50 each, with attendance limited to 200 guests (not including the band and event facilitators). Sponsorships are available to help underwrite the event, and will go toward “sponsored” tickets to allow current Mumford students to attend, generating proceeds for uniforms, and covering production costs.
FYI “Allee Willis Marches on Detroit” takes place just before a matinee of The Color Purple. Event tickets do not include admission to the show. Attendees may (but are not required to) separately purchase discounted tickets for The Color Purple—in advance—by calling Fox Theatre group sales at 313-471-3099.
“Allee Willis Marches on Detroit” is supported by Nickelodeon’s The Big Help Grant Program.
WHEN: Saturday, April 9, 11:00AM to 12:30PM, SHARP
WHERE: The Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201 For Tickets and more information on how to attend, please visit: http://www.alleewillis.com/mumfordinvite |
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Written by R.Rivers
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 150+ Russell Industrial Center resident artists and craftspeople open their studios to public tours and demonstrations.
The Russell Industrial Center, a former auto-manufacturing plant, has emerged as a center for creativity and entrepreneurship by offering affordable studio space to artists, craftspeople and start-up businesses. The massive complex is the largest artist community in the Midwest, with over 200 studio spaces occupied by local and internationally acclaimed creative professionals. Its transformation from an empty industrial space to a lively community offers a unique example of the powerful changes that occur when abandoned space is re-imagined and revitalized.
The Russell Industrial Center resident artists will open their studios to public tours and demonstrations, April 2nd 4pm-12am and April 3rd 12-4pm.
The Russell is home to architects, glassblowers, painters, photographers, woodworkers, jewelry designers, sculptors, fashion designers, recording studios, architects, and many start-up businesses. MONA (Museum of New Art), Cave and five other established galleries are also located in the complex. Recently, underground graffiti artist and Russell resident, Kobie Solomon, painted the largest mural in Michigan on one of the complex walls.
The Russell has been hailed by the local and international community as a model for how Detroit may be revitalized in the coming years. At the time of its purchase in 2003, only a small percentage of its massive square footage was occupied, leaving the bulk of the complex to deteriorate like similar Detroit manufacturing buildings have over time. With the continued support and maintenance by Dionysia Properties, the Russell has instead emerged as an influential center of creativity and entrepreneurship. An average of one new occupant per week joins the Russell creative community.
The industrial backdrop of the campus has also attracted many film productions. It has appeared on “Detroit 1-8-7,” the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, “Vanishing on 7th Street,” “Hostel 3,” and the Palladium Boots documentary “Detroit Lives.” Multiple print and video advertisements were also shot at the Russell.
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Written by B.Stacy
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 THE RUSSELL BAZAAR PRESENTS THE THIRD ANNUAL DETROIT BUSINESS FESTIVAL, FEBRUARY 26-27, 2011 Presented in Partnership with TV20, 107.5 WGPR and WDET 101.9 The Russell Bazaar will be honoring Detroit area entrepreneurs and small-businesses at the Third Annual Detroit Business Festival, February 26-27, 2011. The event will be an opportunity for entrepreneurs and business developers to come together to network and promote their business. Industry leaders from various backgrounds will also lead seminars teaching participants and attendees critical business skills. This year’s festival will be similar to the previously successful events in 2009 and 2010, which included 100+ small businesses in participation and over 1,500 attendees from Detroit and the surrounding metropolitan area. Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh will return again this year to deliver the keynote address. Entrepreneurs and area businesses are welcome to reserve space at the festival, where they may promote their brand’s services and network with other professionals. The festival is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to learn more about the initiatives and opportunities available to new businesses as well as participate in educational seminars. Interested participants may register for space at the festival by downloading the proper forms from the DBF website, www.RussellBazaar.com/dbf In previous years, over 50 industries were represented at the the Detroit Business Festival, including entertainment, law, beauty, healthcare, marketing, retail, media, fine arts, and finance. Marty West, Director of the Russell Bazaar is enthusiastic about the potential of this year’s event, “We’re committed to the continued growth of the festival and are excited about the list of diverse businesses participating this year. This festival gives us an exciting opportunity to celebrate the success of the Russell Industrial Center as a world class art and small business collective, “ she says. “We invite the community to learn about existing businesses and the future of Detroit entrepreneurship.” Professionals and leaders with experience in marketing, public relations, customer service, accounting, entrepreneurship, business finance, and law will lead seminars teaching attendees critical business skills. In previous years, the seminar series was very popular with professionals interested in starting or supporting their own business. Seminars are open to all participating businesses as well as the public. Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh will deliver a keynote address to participants and attendees Sunday at 2pm. Council President Pugh will discuss the current business climate in the city and initiatives available to Detroiters interested in starting their own business. Ken Harris, President and CEO of International Black Business Expo will lead the “Innovators and Entrepreneurs” panel discussion Saturday at 4pm. Business leaders will discuss their experience and will partake in a question and answer session. Media Contact: Lauren McLeod Russell Industrial Center 248.379.2801 Lauren@RICDetroit.orgThe 2011 Detroit Business Festival will also feature additional all-ages entertainment, including live music, raffles, and children’s activities. “Reveal: Inside the Artists’ Vision,” a gallery exhibit featuring local African- American artists will be running throughout the weekend. The gallery exhibit includes work from Mario Moore, Sabrina Nelson, Harold Allen, and M. Saffell Gardner. The Russell Bazaar, a retail marketplace in the Russell Industrial Center, provides an excellent setting for the festival, as it was transformed from an empty warehouse space to a small business incubator. The 65,000 square foot space that now houses the Russell Bazaar sat empty for years after the manufacturing business it once housed was closed. In 2008, the space was reopened as an indoor marketplace where individual vendors can lease affordable retail space on a weekly basis. In providing a space for entrepreneurs to develop their businesses with little start-up cost, the Russell Bazaar has stimulated economic growth within the city. Booths of various sizes will be available to interested participants for $25-75, which includes admission to all seminars and discussions. Registration forms are available on the Detroit Business Festival website, www.RussellBazaar.com/dbf Admission to the Detroit Business Festival is free to the public. Festival Hours: Saturday, February 26, 2011: 12pm-7pm Sunday, February 27, 2011: 12pm-5pm 1600 Clay Avenue, Detroit MI 48211. Building 3 of the Russell Industrial Center Complex Innovators and Entrepreneurs Panel: Business leaders come together to answer audience questions regarding entrepreneurship. Moderated by Ken Harris, President and CEO of the International Black Business Expo. Saturday, February 26th - 4pm Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh’s Keynote Address: Sunday, February 27th - 2pm. Find the Detroit Business Festival on Facebook Twitter: @RussellBazaar, #DetroitBusinessFestival |
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Written by doDetroit Staff
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Here at doDetroit, we are committed to bringing you all the news and information regarding things to DO in Detroit. Right now we are undergoing an overhaul on how we bring this news to you. Please stay tuned as we revamp the front page to stay more in tune and up to date with current events as well as new fun and exciting ways to doDetroit. All of our search functions and database features are still available. Thnak you for your patience doDetroit Staff |
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