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Ashford-Simpson Sizzle Soul at Hall By Ronald Cain Page Five PANTHER October, 1974 Wolverine Produces Original TV Drama By Wanda The popular singing- composing team of Nicko- las Ashford and Valerie Simpson, along with the George Faison Universal Dance Experience, per formed recently to the theme of “A Touch of Class” at the Atlanta Me morial Arts Center, Sym phony Hall. The show began with the George Faison dancers, who flawlessly excuted their choreography to the music “Grand Ma’s Hands”, “Pharoah’s Child ren” by Stevie Wonder, “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” and ‘"Outer Space” by Billy Preston. The choreography was a mixture of modern dance steps and spiritual move ments in response to the music of Stevie Wonder and Billy Preston. The music was new renditions of popular spiritual favor ites. One of the most impress ive features of the perfor mance given by the dan cers was the choreography done in “Tribute to Otis Redding. ” The well- developed performance ap peared to give the audience a new insight, feeling and appreciation for the music of the great Otis Redding. The songs used in tribute to Redding were “A Little of Your Love”, “Can’t Turn You Loose”, Satisfac tion”, “I’ve Been Loving You” and “A Little Ten derness”. The team of Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simp son, known for its success in composing numerous song hits is now riding the waves of success as singers-composers, Ash ford and Simpson, gave a show that will long be re membered by the capacity crowd at the Symphony Hall. There was no need for flashing or trick lighting. All that was necessary was the audience, music, and the team of Ashford and Simp son to create the clear, clean sound of soul they are known for. Nick Ashford’s solo per formance of “Didn’t You Know” was well received. Valerie Simpson soloed with “Silly Wasn’t I?” Ashford and Simpson be gan their performance with the songs, “Keep It Com ing” and “You’re All I Need”, with both well re ceived by the audience. The hit single of Ash ford and Simpson, “I’d Know You Anywhere,” was received with thunderous applause as the audience was now in the mood for the soul session taking place. The sounds were for the mind, body and soul which combined to hold the audience’s complete atten tion. Ending their perform ance, Ashford and Simp son did a medley of songs, which they composed, rang ing from “Lets Go Get Stoned”, “Ain’t No Moun tain High”, up to the more recent “Nothing Like the Real Thing.” Ashford and Simpson re ceived a standing ovation for their skillfully and soul- fully, executed show. Dr. Florence Robinson PROF. HOSTS SHOW By Harry B. Gibson Dr. Florence Crim Ro binson, chairman of the music department at Clark College, has another item to add to her list of achieve ments. She will have a syndicated network radio program entitled" “The Many Sounds of Black Music”. The program will originate from the CBS radio studio in Chicago. At present it has been sold to 48 major markets across the United States, and will be broadcast, beginning in mid-October, three times a week. Dr. Robinson has pre vious experiences with the mass media, in "radio and television. She earlier had a television program on NET television network in Denver, Colo. Recently she hosted the “Florence Ro binson Show” on WPLO radio station in Atlanta. Dr. Robinson commented that Clark College would receive an enormous amount of publicity from her program. She plans to sign on and off the air with a message involving the school. William “Bill” Ran- son, a new addition to the Mass C o m m u n i c ations Program at Clark Col-. lege, announced today that Clarks’ s production of an original play, “The Tie That Binds’ ’, is scheduled for airing in October over WGTV, (Channel 8) in Athens. The play will also be aired in Atlanta over Georgia Educational Television Network. The play, written by Morris Brown student, Clarissa Myrick, marks the culmination of a 14- week creative writing workshop for Atlanta Uni versity Center students. The workshop was funded by the National En dowment of the Arts and involved training young black writers how to work specifically for television using the dramatic format The program consisted of two phases. Thirty- nine students throughout the AU Center submitted scripts. Fromthese thirty-nine students, twenty were chosen, ten alternatives to work on scripts. These students received instructions in television writing, tele vision production and the dramatics of television format during phase one t A television producer- direct or,television! writer, and a drama coach formed the instruction team. Phase two of the work shop involved specialized instruction by two accom plished television writers who have produced dra matic work for the me dia. The two were Clayton Riley, freelance drama critic for the New York Times and Joan Lewis, drama director at Clark College. L. Edwards On June 18 final drafts were submitted to a panel of judges. On June 28 the judges made final decis ions choosing the two scripts that would be pro duced. Two $1,000 stip ends were awarded to as sist the students in pro duction. Barbara Molette of Spelmans drama depart ment, gave individual in structions on the develop ment of ideas, form and the final stages of the scripts. Bob Caniff, pro ducer of Sesame Street, was a guest lecturer. Pre-production activi ties for “The Tie That Binds” were conducted at Georgia Educational Television - networks This included casting and re hearsals of the play. The final taping was on August 27-28 in Athens. Directed by Joan Lew is, the play has a cast of 17 persons. It stars At lanta actors Sam Jackson, Latunya Richardson and Minnette Coleman. The play focuses on a Black Georgia family whose matriarchal struc ture dissolves because of the death of the mother figure. Her death leaves the family to deal with each other as individuals. This includes the return of a member of the family who left her Georgia rural home twenty years before her mother’s death. A second work, “Brothers Of The Broken Stone” written by More house, senior Darold Ross of Sacramento, Cal ifornia, is scheduled to go into producti on later :his year. POET’S CORNER By Janice D. Smith Seeking solitude- Nowhere to go but within myself. Seeking peace from a troubled mind and rest from a restless spirit. Deep within are innermost feelings, Imprisonee-wanting release yet fearful of escaping Got to take time to find lost emotions bring them to surface and discover their true meaning. Seeking solitude- Seeking peace and rest for my gratification Apathetic about tomorrow Disturbed about yesterday Disillusioned with today Got to elude the monotony of merely existing and not living. In you I see the sun, the moon, the darkness of night, the brightness of day. In you I see what my mother saw in me You are my Love. A bundle of joy to be cuddled, crooned over, cared for and taught. I will teach you what my Mother taught me. Charity, Honesty and Love. These things you will use to defend yourself from your offenders. I will prepare you for combat and you will not go unarmed. Feelings of insecurity no longer flood my my soul Because I know who I am. I have been reborn and baptized in a steadfast spirit - Regenerated by new and real emotions. There is no longer a reserved place for loneliness in my abode. Because I have made friends with myself. My awareness of those feelings that compose my being have made all the difference, And a calmness prevails- Those minute emotions unified signify power and strength. I am no longer concerned about my quitetness or my inability For I have conquered myself, And discovered every crevice that exists within me. It is no longer relevant why I exist, but rather now I'should use the time God has allotted me