Carlsbad’s New Village Arts will christened its new stage on Saturday as the Ray Charles Stage, in honor of the famed blues, gospel and R&B singer-songwriter and pianist who passed away in 2004 at the age of 73.
The naming rights were sponsored by Dr. Valerie Ervin and the Ray Charles Foundation. The ceremony will be held just before the opening-night performance of San Diego playwright Dea Hurston’s musical “1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas.” Last January, NVA dedicated its newly renovated building as the Dea Hurston Performing Arts Center. It’s the first arts center in the United States outside of New York City to be named after a Black woman.
Over the past 36 years, Hurston has been an underwriter, arts commissioner, community engagement leader, gala planner, board member and outspoken voice for creating opportunities for actors, directors, designers and playwrights of color in San Diego. She is also a published playwright.
Playwright and arts patron Dea Hurston, third from left, and executive artistic director Kristianne Kurner cut the ribbon on the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center in Carlsbad on Jan. 27.
(Courtesy of michael taylor )
The Ray Charles Foundation, of which Ervin is the longtime president, was drawn to support NVA because of Hurston’s work at the Carlsbad theater, including the establishment of a fellowship program that supports the hiring of artists of color, as well as NVA’s Mainstage Players, which provides performance opportunities for actors with neurodiversity.
NVA founder and executive artistic director Kristianne Kurner said she and all of her colleagues are honored to host the Ray Charles Stage.
“We literally held a dance party with the staff when we received the news,” she said. “The business of non-profit arts is so challenging right now, and this gift from The Ray Charles Foundation has been a shining light for NVA. We promise the work we do on the Ray Charles Stage will be worthy of this great honor.”
Born Ray Charles Robinson in 1930, Charles lost his sight to glaucoma as a young boy and later suffered chronic hearing troubles that he said were far more challenging than the loss of his vision. In 1986, he started his foundation to provide support in the areas of hearing disorders. Later, he expanded the foundation’s mission to empower young people by supporting educational institutions and nonprofit organizations.
Milena (Sellers) Phillips, Victor Morris, Kory Laquess Pullam and Deja Fields in New Village Arts’ 2021 production of “1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas.”
(Courtesy of Rich Soublet II)
Hurston’s musical “1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas” was commissioned by New Village Arts and first produced in 2021. Last December, due to the ongoing $2.5 million renovation of the New Village Arts building, the show was instead presented as a concert-style show that toured the county. But this year it returns to its Carlsbad home. Hurston said in a recent phone call that she’s very proud that her musical will be performed this year on the Ray Charles Stage.
Featuring original music by Milena (Sellers) Phillips, who also plays the show’s lead role, “1222 Oceanfront” is the story of widowed family matriarch Dorothy Black, hosting a Christmas Eve celebration at her elegant beachside home with her adult son and extended family when some unexpected family drama erupts: Dorothy has a new boyfriend and she’s ready to make big changes in her life, home and holiday traditions.
The holiday musical opens Saturday and runs through Dec. 24, with showtimes at 2 p.m. Wednesday; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 2 and 6 p.m. Sundays at 2787 State St., Carlsbad. Tickets are $28-$55 or “dinner and a show” for $102. Call (760) 433-3245 or visit newvillagearts.org.
pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com
