Black artistry, past and present
Written by Mike Mullen
From St. Paul to Washington, and beyond, there’s a fair amount of uncertainty lingering these days. Take solace and find confidence in the fact that the Capri continues to deliver a packed lineup of community enrichment and entertainment for everyone to enjoy.
How about a little harmony and romance? The Legends @ the Capri series returns February 8-9 with “Your Sweet Love,” featuring performances of the duets of Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye by vocalists Julius Collins and Lyndora Turner. Collins’ local ties are strong — he was once managed by none other than Prince — while Turner’s connection to the venue is even closer: She’s an alumni of Summer Camp Capri, where she studied under Legends Artistic Director, Dennis Spears.
Saturday night’s showtime is 7 p.m., and the Sunday matinee starts at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25, $20 for groups of 10 or more, and $30 at the door; purchase at capri.simpletix.com or call 612-643-2040.
On February 16, the Capri hosts a “Black Beauty Buyathon” event, celebrating the Black entrepreneurial spirit, and the legacies of Annie Turnbo Malone and Madam C.J. Walker, pioneers of the Black beauty industry. The beauty-full market in the Paradise at the Capri features vendors offering self-care, beauty and wellness products of all kinds, with hourly live demonstrations for the crowd. Free to attend; vendor tables available for $75, or $100 for featured vendors providing demonstrations. This Capri Black History event runs from 3-7 p.m. More info and vendor registration at thecapri.org.
Look for an early highlight of the year when the Black Europe Film Festival of Minneapolis/St. Paul (BEFF) comes to the Capri on Saturday, February 1. The event begins at 2 p.m. with a screening of Girl, including a virtual Q&A with director Adura Onashile, followed by Black Youth in Motion, a run of six short films at 4:30 p.m., and then an audience reception at 6:30 p.m. The evening’s 7:30 p.m. screening of The Black Sea will be followed by a Q&A with the film’s star and co-director, Derrick B. Harden.
Tickets for the Capri screenings only are available at capri.simpletix.com: $5 for students, $8 for members of MSP Film and Northsiders (zips 55411, 55412, 55430 — special rate for Capri screenings only), and $10 for the general public.
The three-day BEFF festival, January 30-February 2, is a celebration of Afro-European cinema that includes documentaries, narrative films, and shorts by Europe’s most renowned Black filmmakers. Screenings will also be held at the Main Cinema, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Cedar Cultural Center. Look for the full schedule of films, visiting filmmakers, workshops and masterclasses at beffmsp.org.
Registration for the Capri Glee! choir’s winter season is open now, and rehearsals are 7 p.m. each Tuesday, from February 18 through March 18, followed by the March 25 concert. All are welcome, no experience required. Led by director and teacher J.D. Steele and his brother Fred Steele, the program has been described as “a blast” and “very life-giving” by past singers. Register at thecapri.org.
The February selection for First Thursday Films is American Fiction, a smart, funny look at the meaning of Black stories in modern literature. The 2023 film starring Jeffrey Wright and Tracee Ellis Ross was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. American Fiction screens at 7 p.m. on February 6. David Laurence Grant leads the conversation after the film, with MSP Film Programmer, Craig Lawrence Rice.
Entrance to First Thursday Films is free for Northside residents; others can obtain $5 tickets at mspfilm.org.
On February 7, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra continues its Northside Series with performances of works by Beethoven, Alberto Ginastera, and contemporary composer Joan Tower. Tickets are free for Northsiders (reservations are required at thespco.org – enter your zipcode as the promo code) and children; reserved seating tickets $16-$36 for non-Northside adults. More info at thespco.org.
On January 31, Cassie J. Williams presents “Unbound: An Evening of Poetry,” a night of words and song illustrating the beauty and struggle of Black womanhood. Williams will be joined by Vance “DJ Advance” McCain and singer Sharice McCain. Showtime for this Capri rental event is 7:30-9 p.m., followed by a meet-and-greet. Tickets are $20 for early birds, $30 on the day of the event; available through Eventbrite.
And, a reminder: Due to ongoing construction next door, the Capri is temporarily operating with reduced parking availability. Before you come, we encourage you to visit thecapri.org/parking-capri/ to learn about regular parking options and any updates on changes as construction progresses.
The Capri is located at 2027 W. Broadway. For details and ticket info visit thecapri.org.